(10-21-26) A hazardous materials release at Sterling Pipe & Tube in North Toledo forced evacuations Tuesday night, October 20, with officials expanding the evacuation zone to a full mile around the plant as a chemical plume drifted from the site.
The Lucas County Emergency Management Agency first issued an evacuation alert for people within one-half mile of 1050 Progress Avenue. Toledo Fire & Rescue later expanded the evacuation to one mile, with the EMA urging individuals within one mile of the address to evacuate immediately.
The release involved a leaking trailer at the facility, in the 5300 block of Enterprise Boulevard, just west of the Toledo Speedway. Radio traffic from the scene identified the leaking chemical as methyl acrylate, a highly flammable liquid used in making acrylic fibers, paints and adhesives; Toledo Fire officials described the airborne chemical as unidentified as crews worked the scene.
Toledo Fire spokesperson Pvt. Sheldon Collins said the facility and other buildings within one mile were evacuated. Washington Township officials evacuated residents of the Raintree Village mobile home park, and the Alexis Addition neighborhood was also among the communities in the evacuation area.
People farther from the site were told to shelter in place. An east wind was pushing the chemical plume west, and a heavy odor was reported across the area.
No injuries had been reported as of early Wednesday morning, and officials had not issued an all-clear. The cause of the release, the amount of chemical involved and when residents can return home remained unknown as the incident continued.
