Small fires along Highway 101 back up traffic in SLO County
Two small fires burning beside Highway 101 near Santa Margarita on Wednesday morning caused a lane closure and backed up traffic in the area.
The first blaze was reported at 9:41 a.m. just south of Highway 58. It then spread past a perimeter fence to grass just west of Highway 101, according to the California Highway Patrol traffic log.
Then, another fire was reported just north of Highway 58.
The CHP requested that Caltrans close the No. 2 lane of Highway 101 from just south of Highway 58 to the second fire.
By 10 a.m., traffic had slowed in the area, according to the CHP.
Caltrans briefly closed the Highway 58 on-ramp to southbound Highway 101.
By 10:23 a.m., the first fire was extinguished, and Caltrans reopened the on-ramp, the CHP said.
By 10:31 a.m., the second fire was extinguished, and by 10:35 a.m., the southbound lane of Highway 101 was reopened, according to the CHP.
