A hazardous materials release at a tank terminal in North Toledo, Ohio, forced thousands of residents to leave their homes overnight or seal themselves indoors, as a chemical plume drifted over the area and cut visibility on major roads, city and fire officials said.

Toledo Fire & Rescue ordered everyone within a one-mile radius of 1266 Progress Avenue, the MC Tank Terminal, to evacuate at 10:48 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the City of Toledo said in its official incident update. Emergency crews had first been dispatched to the Progress Avenue site at about 9:25 p.m., according to The Toledo Blade, and the evacuation zone grew from a half-mile to a full mile as the release continued. At 4:24 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, fire officials ordered everyone within a three-mile radius to shelter in place — stay indoors, close windows and doors, turn off ventilation that draws in outside air, and keep pets inside.

Fire department spokesperson Pvt. Sheldon Collins said a tank outside the facility was leaking chemical onto the ground, the facility itself was evacuated, and a chemical was present in the air that officials had not yet identified in the first hours, 13abc (WTVG) reported. Nearby Sterling Pipe & Tube was also evacuated, and the Toledo Assembly Complex was cleared at about 11 p.m., according to local reporting. The neighbourhoods inside the evacuation zone include the Raintree Village mobile home park and the Alexis Addition; Washington Township officials helped clear Raintree Village residents from their homes.

Evacuees were directed to Shoreland Elementary School, opened as a temporary shelter, and to the Meijer parking lot off East Alexis Road, where the American Red Cross and TARTA buses were stationed to provide transport and shelter help. The city said there had been no explosion — only a release — and that no injuries or fatalities had been reported. City officials described the substance as an irritant that can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, and gave the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department number, 419-213-4100, for health questions. Residents were asked not to call 911 about the leak, which was overloading dispatchers, and to call Engage Toledo instead for non-emergency help.

Later on Wednesday morning, MC Tank Transport issued a statement, reported by 13abc, identifying the chemical as glycidyl methacrylate, an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better. The company, a subsidiary of The Kenan Advantage Group, Inc., confirmed equipment associated with its operations was involved, said it was working closely with Toledo Fire & Rescue and other emergency authorities, had mobilized additional specialized response resources, and was working with the American Red Cross on emergency lodging and transportation assistance for displaced residents.

Enterprise Boulevard was closed between Stickney Avenue and Benore Road, nearby railroad operations were halted, and the moving plume reduced visibility on roadways across the Toledo area, including Interstate 75, with drivers urged to slow down and use caution, officials and local outlets reported. Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools cancelled classes for Wednesday. The city said the release was ongoing and crews were continuing to monitor the situation, with officials scheduled to give a public update on Wednesday morning. The cause of the leak had not been announced. Sources: City of Toledo official hazardous materials update, October 21, 2026 (evacuation and shelter-in-place orders, times, shelters, health guidance); 13abc / WTVG, October 20-21, 2026, reporting Toledo Fire & Rescue Pvt. Sheldon Collins and the MC Tank Transport statement identifying glycidyl methacrylate; The Toledo Blade via local reporting (crews dispatched about 9:25 p.m.); WTOL 11 via WKYC and TODAY (evacuation zone, no injuries reported at that stage, Assembly Complex evacuation).