Flames erupted on a big rig carrying building supplies Tuesday morning on State Route 78 in San Marcos, prompting a traffic alert in the area.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Jim Bettencourt said the fire broke out on the big rig just before 6:30 a.m. The driver pulled over to the right shoulder of eastbound SR-78 east of Nordalh Road as the cab became fully engulfed in raging flames.
Bettencourt said the driver of the big rig was able to get out of the vehicle unharmed. No injuries were reported.
Fire crews rushed to the scene and were able to quickly knock out the fire.
The two right lanes of SR-78 were shut down so firefighters could work to clean up the area. A SigAlert was issued and traffic was backed up from Sycamore Avenue to Centre City Parkway.
As a result of the bumper-to-bumper traffic, CHP officials suggested motorists use an alternate route to get to Interstate 15.
