Hillside fire brings Highway 101 traffic over Cuesta Grade to stand still

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Update 4:46 p.m.

The fire was 50% contained after burning 3 to 5 acres, Cal Fire said in a post on X.

Cal Fire said the cause of the fire was under investigation and that northbound traffic on Highway 101 would be impacted for the next few hours while crews cleaned up the scene.

Update, 4:10 p.m.

Forward progress of the fire has stopped , according Cal Fire.

Meanwhile traffic along the northbound lanes of the highway was backed up nearly to San Luis Obispo, according to Caltrans’ QuickMap.

Original story:

A vegetation fire on the Cuesta Grade slowed northbound Highway 101 traffic Wednesday afternoon.

Units from Cal Fire were responding to the scene as of 3:30 p.m. In a post on X at 3:35 p.m. , Cal Fire said emergency personnel were on the right shoulder attending to the blaze.

According to emergency scanner traffic, the fire was spreading at a moderate rate and was headed further up the hill.

The fire had reportedly burned 5 acres as of 3:45 p.m. and was not near any structures, according scanner traffic.

Traffic was moving slowly throughout the area, with stand-still jams reported south of Old Stage Coach Road, according to Caltrans QuickMap .

The No. 3 northbound lane was closed at roughly 3:50pm according to a Caltrans District 5 post on X.

CHP SLO told The Tribune there was no estimate for when the lane would re-open.

As of 4 p.m., Cal Fire, Los Padres National Forest, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, CHP and Cuesta Conservation Camp were among those on scene.

Air tankers could be seen circling in the air, but had not yet conducted a drop.