TOLEDO, Ohio — A 5,500-gallon tank of glycidyl methacrylate is still venting gas at the MC Tank Transport terminal at 1266 Progress Ave. in north Toledo. As of this morning, the half-mile evacuation zone around the terminal remains in effect and there has been no all-clear, according to the City of Toledo’s incident page (last updated 8:05 p.m. ET Wednesday).

The shelter-in-place order covering a three-mile radius — tens of thousands of residents in Toledo and Michigan’s Bedford and Erie townships — was lifted around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The evacuation zone itself was cut from one mile to a half-mile. The Shoreland Elementary shelter remains open for displaced residents, with the Red Cross and TARTA buses staged at the Meijer lot on E. Alexis Road.

Ohio EPA spokesman Bryant Somerville said the release resulted from “an error that occurred when the material was being transferred.” An MC Tank employee first reported the release just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

At Wednesday’s 1 p.m. briefing, officials estimated the release could take another 6 to 16 hours to finish — a window that expires early this morning, though no official confirmation that venting is complete has been published as of 7 a.m. Tank temperature is dropping and gas output is “significantly lower than it was,” Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said Wednesday evening. The U.S. EPA said TFRD containment attempts were “not successful” and that “the tank has been compromised and the chemical within the tank is completing a reaction.” Five EPA on-scene coordinators are on site, with four stationary air-monitoring locations, three sampling locations and a TAGA mobile air lab deploying. Air-monitoring data “will be posted as they become available.”

Explosion risk remains the central concern. “As long as there is still material in the tank, there is a risk of explosion, and crews cannot approach it,” city spokesperson Rachel Hart told USA Today. On Wednesday morning, Kapszukiewicz said, “There is still concern that the tank is emitting this chemical and it has potential within 12 hours of the incident to be explosive.” By Wednesday evening, he struck a more measured note: “There’s no question the situation is getting better. … This is something we should be concerned about. This is not something we should panic about.”

ProMedica treated about 30 to 35 people for symptoms potentially tied to the leak, most of whom were treated and released. One Lucas County sheriff’s deputy self-transported to the hospital overnight Tuesday and was not seriously hurt. There have been no fatalities. Lucas County Health Commissioner Karim Baroudi described the chemical as “mostly an irritant at this point,” adding, “It’s really toxic if you touch it, if you ingest it… we’re trying to kind of determine how much of a toxicity is in the air that the people are breathing.”

For residents outside the half-mile evacuation zone, the health department issued a return-home safety protocol: cross-ventilate homes, wipe surfaces and vehicle handles with warm water and dish soap, discard uncovered food (“when in doubt, throw it out”), wash exposed clothing and discard open pet food. Residents with health questions can call 419-213-4100.

Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools were closed Wednesday. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, neither district had announced plans for Thursday — families should check district channels this morning. In Michigan, Bedford Public Schools, Mason Consolidated, Monroe County Community College’s Whitman Center and the Bedford Township Veterans Center were closed Wednesday.

The Stellantis North Toledo Assembly Complex — home of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, about a mile from the terminal — was evacuated Tuesday night, and first- and second-shift production was canceled Wednesday. The south plant, outside the evacuation zone but inside the since-lifted shelter-in-place area, is “not running this week,” spokesperson Jodi Tinson said. Kuka, Mobis, Mayco and Dana canceled Wednesday afternoon shifts. Republic Services suspended Wednesday trash and recycling pickup in Sylvania because the Hoffman Landfill sits inside the evacuation zone. Coverage of the Michigan-side response: Detroit Free Press.

Tap water remains safe, the city said, with water treated inside pressurized lines and the source not contaminated. I-75 and I-280 are open, though roads around the evacuation area remain closed. City services return to normal operations Thursday. The Coast Guard is advising compliance with zones on the waterways, and a 24-hour flight restriction was placed over the area Wednesday afternoon for all aircraft including drones, except emergency responders.

MC Tank Transport Inc., a subsidiary of The Kenan Advantage Group, said equipment tied to its operations was involved in the release. The company says it is cooperating with authorities, has mobilized specialized emergency response resources and is working with the American Red Cross on emergency lodging and transportation. It describes glycidyl methacrylate as “an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better” (company statement, PDF). Company executives based in Arkansas are traveling to Toledo, according to the mayor. Background on the chemical: Akron Beacon Journal; Fostoria Free Press.

Video updates

WTOL 11 reports the evacuation zone has been reduced to a half-mile and the shelter-in-place order lifted:

WKYC’s coverage from the hazmat scene:

13abc investigative reporter Shaun Hegarty shared this look at the gas leaking from the scene:

https://x.com/Shaun_Hegarty/status/2112921069094932954