Toledo Fire & Rescue Department ordered evacuations late Tuesday after a hazardous materials incident near Enterprise Boulevard and Progress Avenue in Toledo, Ohio.
Officials established a one-mile evacuation zone around the active emergency scene to protect people while responders managed the situation.
According to Toledo television station WTOL, the incident occurred at the Sterling Pipe & Tube Facility. Fire officials told the station that the facility had been evacuated.
Residents and drivers were urged to stay away from the affected area until further notice.
Shelter-in-Place Guidance Issued
Toledo fire officials issued instructions for people in the surrounding area to remain indoors and limit exposure to outside air.
In its public safety guidance, the department said, "Shelter in place by remaining indoors, closing all windows and doors, and turning off ventilation systems that bring in outside air."
The department also emphasized the importance of following instructions and keeping the emergency area clear while responders worked to manage the incident.
Toledo fire officials added, "We ask everyone to remain calm, follow the directions of emergency personnel, and avoid the affected area to allow first responders to safely manage the incident."
Separately, several workers told WTOL that the Toledo Assembly complex was also evacuated at around 11 p. m.
Tuesday.
The workers' accounts indicated that the evacuation extended beyond the Sterling Pipe & Tube Facility, although the source report did not provide further details about the circumstances at the assembly complex.
Officials had not provided additional information in the source report about the hazardous material involved, the cause of the incident, or whether anyone was injured.
The one-mile evacuation zone remained the stated safety perimeter, and residents and drivers were advised to avoid the area until authorities issued further notice.
