Big rig fire stops traffic on Highway 101 in Shell Beach
A big rig fire on Highway 101 in Shell Beach stopped traffic in the northbound lanes for hours on Friday night, according to the CHP.
The fire was reported at 9:18 p.m. near the Spyglass Drive exit and forced the closure of both lanes headed toward San Luis Obispo.
The cab caught fire with flames fully engulfing the front of the truck, the CHP said. It then spread to the trailer.
Smoke from the fire also slowed traffic on the southbound side while police worked to route drivers off the highway at Bello and Wadsworth streets.
Paul Malarik Jr., who lives in the neighborhood nearby, told The Tribune in an email that residents heard a series of explosions as the truck burned, for as long as an hour.
The area is always on high alert for fires, as it is adjacent to open space. In June 2020, the Avila Fire burned 445 acres of vegetation in the area, threatening homes and forcing evacuations.
In a Nextdoor post, Malarik said two neighbors used garden hoses to wet down the grassy area near their condos, to prevent spot fires from flying ash and embers.
“It appeared that the entire truck was burning inside,” Malarik wrote. “Some observers on porches claimed that the cab was ‘melted.’ The viscerally felt explosions continued for what seemed to be about an hour or so. The flames continue to keep flaring up over time.
“It was really terrifying for some of the residents who experienced or even fought the last fire,” he wrote.
This story was originally published September 22, 2023 at 10:35 PM.
