By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

Monroe firefighters prepare to enter a semi trailer where several barrels of potassium hydroxide were leaking at the Stony Ridge truck stop at Ohio 63 and I-75 this afternoon. The Enquirer/Glenn Hartong

MONROE—Firefighters from Monroe and West Chester spent at least 90 minutes today securing a spill of potassium hydroxide at the Stony Ridge Inn on Ohio 63.

There were no reported injuries, and it was not immediately known how much of the chemical leaked from drums inside a tractor trailer. Firefighters were called to the truck stop about 10:30 a.m. after the truck driver noticed the chemical inside the trailer, Monroe Fire Chief Mark Neu said.

There were 47 drums inside the truck, and several appeared to be leaking, Neu said. Firefighters staged about 160 feet away from the chemical, and dressed in hazardous materials suites to enter the trailer and plug the leaking drums.

The chemical can cause severe injury or death if inhaled.

The parking lot where the leak occurred runs along Interstate 75 in an industrial area, and there were no reports of evacuations of nearby businesses.

Monroe fire officials were not available for further comment late this afternoon.

E-mail deck@fuse.net