APPLETON, Wis. (From WBAY) -- A chemical leak at Appvion in Appleton prompted an evacuation and shut down nearby Wisconsin Avenue for a few hours Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Appleton Fire Department, crews responded to the paper facility around 2 p.m. after a report of a sodium hydroxide leak in the basement.

Fire officials say workers had contained the leak to the building and the fire department HazMat team helped dilute the chemical. The leak started because a hose broke.

Sodium hydroxide can severely irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.

Crews were on scene for about three hours.

No injuries were reported.

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