UPDATE 10 p.m.: Southbound 99 reopened shortly before 9:30 p.m. Monday.
Original Post: A tractor trailer hauling a load of hay has caught fire on southbound 99 and is blocking all lanes of traffic in that direction.
Chris Harvey with the Sacramento Fire Department says there's currently no estimated time of reopening the lanes.
“Once the hay gets burning they have to spread it out and put it out,” says Harvey. “It’s going to take a long time to extinguish.”
Caltrans is on the scene and directing people off the freeway at 47th Avenue and then back on at Mack Road.
Harvey says even though hay is a very flammable substance they rarely see incidents like this.
“The cargo itself is relatively inert - it doesn’t combust on it’s own."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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