Semi-Truck Fire Sparks Small Brush Fire on Highway 101, Driver Suffers Minor Burns

A semi-truck hauling rocks caught fire on Highway 101, prompting a response from multiple fire agencies.

A semi-truck traveling along the southbound flank of Highway 101 near Three Bridges caught fire on the afternoon of May 11, 2026.

The fire was reported at around 1:34 p.m., according to a social media post by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The driver noticed smoke coming from the cab and safely pulled over before the tractor became fully engulfed in flames.

Fire officials said the driver sustained minor burns due to the fire.

The driver was evaluated on the scene by an emergency medical response team and was released at the scene following treatment. No hospitalization was required.

The fire from the semi-truck had also spread to the nearby vegetation. Fire officials said an approximately 60×60-foot area of brush was scorched.

The vegetation fire was quickly contained by crews from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, assisted by resources from the Los Padres National Forest.

Authorities said that there was no threat to the truck’s cargo of rocks. No additional injuries were reported.

Authorities did not mention if traffic was impacted due to the fire.

The cause of the fire was not disclosed.

Authorities shared videos of a firefighter spraying fire retardants on the vehicle, while a team of fire crews worked to suppress the brush fire.

Another video taken from the inside of a vehicle showed a plume of black smoke rising from the scorched semi-truck.

Structure Fire on Laguna Street

Later that day, fire officials responded to another unrelated structure fire on Laguna Street in Santa Barbara.

Responding to an emergency call at around 2:18 p.m., crews from the Santa Barbara City Fire Department rushed to the scene of a structure fire.

Several fire engines rushed to 1232 Laguna Street, near the intersection of Victoria Street.

More Recent Incidents of Fire

Another major fire on the same day prompted fire response teams from multiple agencies.

Earlier on Monday, a fire broke out on Platform Habitat, an offshore oil and gas platform near the Carpinteria coast in the Santa Barbara Channel.

All 26 crew members were rescued from the platform.

The fire prompted emergency response teams from multiple agencies. The Coast Guard rushed to the scene, along with crews from the Ventura and Santa Barbara County fire departments, Santa Barbara City Fire, and Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, along with federal emergency agencies.

The fire occurred at 6:30 a.m. and was extinguished at 11:40 a.m., the Coast Guard shared in a social media update.

Platform Habitat is a non-oil-producing platform and was in the process of being decommissioned, according to the Coast Guard.

A 1,000-yard safety zone has been enforced around the platform.

There are no indications of oil being released into the water, and no impacts on marine life or the public, the Coast Guard added.

Authorities will initiate an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.