UPDATE 7:22 p.m.: California Highway Patrol Press Release:

On 7/28/14 at approximately 1634 hours, Kyle Miranda of Ferndale was travelling northbound on US-101 in his 2009 Dodge truck, hauling a Great Northern trailer loaded with hay.  For unknown reasons, the hay ignited, and began to burn near Scotia.  Miranda’s friend was following in another truck, and signaled him.  Miranda pulled over and attempted to extinguish the fire but was unable to do so.  The CHP, and fire department units responded.  A small portion of the east hillside near US-101 was also partially burned.

US-101 is restricted to controlled traffic at the location.  The Department Of Transportation has traffic control in place and is cleaning the roadway.

Officer Aaron Stacy is investigating the incident.

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: The southbound number one lane has been closed to southbound traffic and northbound traffic has been diverted into it, according to CHP dispatch.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: CHP dispatch stating that both northbound lanes and one southbound lane are currently closed due to smoke.

UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: LoCO readers send in the following photos. -AG

Original Post: Scanner traffic and CHP dispatch both report a hay truck on fire on Hwy 101 near mile marker 51 south of Scotia. At least one northbound lane on Hwy 101 has been closed.

Scotia and Rio Dell have responded and one crew is on the scene. One person on the scene reported that “We’ve now got explosions.” Scanner traffic says there is a “minor” spread of fire into the wildlands.