California Highway Patrol officers are working to reopen lanes of Highway 101 in the Summerland area where a tanker truck caught fire Friday morning.
According to CHP logs, a tanker truck was reported on fire on the northbound lanes of the 101 near the Padaro Ln. exit just before 5:40 a.m.
CHP initially shut down all lanes of Highway 101 through the Summerland area due to a hazmat concern.
Possible HAZMAT inhalation danger, all lanes on US 101 will be shut down from Sheffield to North Padaro. Please stay away from the Summerland area. Montecito Fire is assessing the situation. @rholguin_760 pic.twitter.com/Yb9rWtdNKM
— Santa Barbara CHP (@CHP_SantaBarb) May 3, 2019
Montecito firefighters were called to assess the scene and determined it would be safe to reopen the southbound lanes and one northbound lane.
It was determined that the brakes on the tanker truck caught fire but the flames did not make contact with the product the truck was hauling, eliminating the hazmat concern.
Neg HAZMAT, US 101 open! US 101, northbound #1 lane is open, #2 lane will remain closed. @rholguin_760 pic.twitter.com/MY9YofqP8M
— Santa Barbara CHP (@CHP_SantaBarb) May 3, 2019
Traffic is still moving slowly through the area. Drivers are asked to be cautious of first responders working at the scene.
