CHP officers seeing more accidents on Highway 154 as Alisal Fire continues

BUELLTON, Calif. - Officers with the California Highway Department in Buellton are seeing more accidents on Highway 154.

This comes after the closure of Highway 101 as the Alisal Fire continues.

Caltrans closed Highway 101 in both directions Monday afternoon as the fire burned its way down the hillside toward the freeway.

The Highway 101 closure is in place from Highway 1 at Las Cruces to Winchester Canyon/Cathedral Oaks Road in Goleta.

Refugio Road is fully in the immediate area of the fire, and is closed, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Traffic is slowed in the area of the closure due to poor visibility and emergency vehicles. A traffic crash involving a big rig took place just north of Refugio, according to CHP. The semi-truck went off the roadway and caught fire.

The Los Padres National Forest Service is the lead agency responding to the fire with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

CHP Officers in the Buellton area urges safe driving as heavy traffic is expected to continue in the next several days.