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North Toledo, Ohio—A fast-moving hazmat emergency late Tuesday night has forced officials to issue a one-mile evacuation order around Sterling Pipe & Tube at 1050 Progress Avenue, sending residents scrambling and snarling predawn traffic across Lucas County. First responders say a ruptured tank released what is believed to be sulfuric acid vapor, creating a dense, chemical-laden fog that cut visibility to near-zero on portions of I-75 and Alexis Road. Key details: • Who is affected: Roughly 2,000 people in the Raintree Village mobile-home park, Alexis Addition neighborhood and nearby industrial corridor. Lucas County EMA activated TARTA buses and the American Red Cross to ferry evacuees to the Meijer on East Alexis Road. • What happened: Fire officials report a storage vessel outside the steel-tube plant began leaking shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday, releasing a corrosive cloud that mixed with seasonal fog. Crews have “largely contained” the spill, but lingering fumes remain a health and traffic hazard. • Road & rail closures: Enterprise Blvd., Stickney Ave. and sections of Benore Rd. are blocked; adjacent rail lines are shut down until hazmat meters confirm safe air readings. • Safety guidance: Anyone within the evacuation ring must leave immediately. Those up to three miles away should shelter in place, close windows, turn off HVAC intakes and avoid outdoor activity until officials give the all-clear. • What’s next: Environmental contractors are siphoning residual acid and testing soil; the Ohio EPA will decide when residents can return. City leaders plan a 10 a.m. press briefing to outline cleanup timelines, traffic re-openings and potential air-quality monitoring for surrounding schools. Why this matters: The incident underscores persistent industrial-safety concerns in Toledo’s manufacturing belt. Sterling Pipe & Tube—one of the region’s largest steel-tube suppliers—was cited in 2024 for minor OSHA violations involving chemical storage. Tuesday night’s leak, however, represents the city’s most extensive evacuation since the 2023 I-280 tanker crash. Early social-media video shows a gray haze blanketing North Toledo’s skyline, with drivers describing a “burnt-metal smell” inside vehicles. SEO takeaway: Searches for “Toledo hazmat leak,” “North Toledo evacuation,” “Progress Avenue chemical spill,” “Sterling Pipe & Tube accident,” and “sulfuric acid fog Ohio” are surging. Bookmark this page for live updates as air-quality tests, traffic advisories and re-entry schedules are released throughout the day.