On the Dash:
- Stellantis halted production at its Toledo Assembly Complex north plant, which builds the Jeep Wrangler, sending workers home Tuesday night and canceling first and second shifts Wednesday.
- The nearby chemical release prompted an evacuation order within a 1-mile radius and a shelter-in-place order within 3 miles, affecting an area that includes the assembly complex.
- The release involved glycidyl methacrylate, which can irritate the eyes, nose, mouth and skin. No injuries or fatalities had been reported, and city officials said tap water was not contaminated.
Stellantis sent workers home Tuesday night from the north plant of its Toledo Assembly Complex, which builds the Jeep Wrangler, after a hazardous chemical release nearby. According to spokesperson Ann Marie Fortunate, the automaker canceled the first and second shifts Wednesday.
The plant sits about one mile from the MC Tank Transport terminal, where the release began. Toledo Fire & Rescue issued an immediate evacuation order for a one-mile radius around the terminal at 1266 Progress Ave., and officials advised residents within three miles to shelter in place. According to the city, Toledo Fire & Rescue reduced the evacuation zone to a half-mile radius and lifted the shelter-in-place order by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex, which produces the Jeep Gladiator midsize truck, was not scheduled to operate this week. That facility sits outside the one-mile evacuation radius but inside the three-mile shelter-in-place zone.
UAW Vice President Kevin Gotinsky, who leads the union’s Stellantis Department, said the union is closely monitoring the spill and its effect on members who live and work in Toledo. Gotinsky also said worker safety remains the union’s top priority. He urged employees to contact their union representatives with any questions or concerns.
According to the city, glycidyl methacrylate is an irritant that can burn the eyes, nose, mouth and skin. Overexposure can cause headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and officials recommend showering or rinsing affected areas and contacting a medical professional if exposure is suspected. Per the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, at least 60 people received treatment Wednesday for symptoms potentially related to the release, though the city had earlier reported no injuries or fatalities.