A chemical tank incident at an MC Tank Transport facility in north Toledo prompted evacuations and shelter-in-place orders affecting hundreds of residents Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

The event occurred around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the terminal on Progress Avenue. Officials identified the chemical involved as glycidyl methacrylate, an industrial substance used in plastics, paints, and coatings. It is stored as a liquid but can release as a gas, causing irritation to the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said at a Wednesday morning news conference that the tank may still pose an explosion risk for up to 12 hours after the incident. First responders avoided approaching the site initially due to that hazard. Dense fog early Wednesday delayed drone monitoring of the area.

City officials ordered evacuations for everyone within a 1-mile radius, affecting about 983 people. All had left the zone by Wednesday morning, with some directed to shelters at Shoreland Elementary School and a Meijer parking lot where buses served as temporary housing. A shelter-in-place order covered a 3-mile radius, instructing residents to close windows and doors, shut off ventilation drawing outside air, and keep pets indoors.

One Lucas County sheriff's deputy was injured while responding to the scene and drove himself to the hospital. Officials described the injury as not serious. An employee at the facility called 911 to report the incident.

The chemical release produced a noticeable odor described as plastic-like in some areas. Health officials noted it acts primarily as an irritant so far, though long-term exposure concerns include potential carcinogenicity. MC Tank Transport confirmed the tank was associated with its operations and held up to 5,500 gallons.

The largely industrial location limited immediate residential impact, though the shelter-in-place zone extended near the Ohio-Michigan border. Officials planned to reassess conditions later Wednesday as visibility improved. No cause for the incident has been determined.