In 1971 J. Standard Baker Quoted " Drivers Towing Trailers  Are Four (4) Times As Unsafe As Those In Cars Alone! 

(UPDATE) Vehicle’s Trailer Hauling Hay Bales Catches Fire On Highway 101 Near College of the Redwoods

UPDATE,1:06 p.m. : The fire department says that the fire is out. Still in the process of removing the hay from the roadway. Once the hay is clear, the vehicle can be removed.

The following video was sent of the fire earlier this afternoon by Jonathan Weltsch:

ORIGINAL POST: According to the traffic scanner a vehicle hauling a trailer full of hay caught fire at about 12:15 p.m. today on highway 101 north, near the College of the Redwoods off ramp. 

Evidently the driver did not seem to notice at first and continued driving. Eventually the trailer was consumed by the flames, spilling hay bales into the roadway.

California Highway Patrol and the Loleta Fire Department are responding. 

One lane of 101 will be closed in the area for about two to three hours, while the hay is cleared.

12:14 p.m.
[1] PK HAULING HAY, BALES ON FIRE
12:15 p.m.
[4] 1039 CF
12:15 p.m.
[3] SEEMS UNAWARE, VEH STILL MOVING
12:18 p.m.
[13] [Notification] [CHP]-HAY SPILLING IN RDWY NOW [Shared]
12:18 p.m.
[15] 16-R1 VEH FULLY ENGULFED, PARTIAL 1125 IN #2, REQ 31 START BREAK AT HOOKTON
12:24 p.m.
[17] A16-031 RUNNING A BREAK AND CLOSING #2 LN JSO R1
12:25 p.m.
[18] 16-R1 ALL OCCUPANTS OO VEH
12:26 p.m.
[19] 16-R1 #2 CLOSED
12:34 p.m.
[20] 16-R1 1185 X2, QUARTER TON FORD PK, FULLY ENGULFED, 2ND FOR 16 FT UTIL TRLR FULLY ENGULFED, BOTH FRAMES COMPROMISED
12:38 p.m.
[21] [Rotation Request Comment] 1039 PACIFIC TOW 707-443-8482 FOR BOTH
12:40 p.m.
[22] 16-R1 REQ DOT FOR HARD CLOSURE OF #2 LN, FIRE ADVSING HAY WILL TAKE ABOUT 2-3 HRS TO BE FULLY OUT
1:06 p.m.
[28] A16-031 FIRE ADVSING HAY IS OUT, REQ DOT RESPOND W/ BACKHOE TO REMOVE HAY FROM RDWAY, UNABLE TO LOAD VEHS ON 1185 UNTIL REMOVED
1:14 p.m.
[31] 1039 163
1:44 p.m.
[32] A16-031 FIRE 98
1:50 p.m.
[33] A16-031 DOT BLADE TK REMOVED THE HAY, REST WILL DISSIPATE W/ TRAFFIC, VEHS BEING LOADED NOW
1:54 p.m.
[34] A16-031 1185 98

In 2019  over 40% of all wildfires will be caused by a person towing a trailer with dragging safety chains