One lane of northbound Highway 101 just south of Palmer Road that was closed throughout the day as crews cleaned up in the wake of a semi truck fire that happened early this morning has reopened, reported the California Highway Patrol around 5 p.m.

Crews had hoped to reopen the lane by midday, but wrestled with removing the melted wreckage, CHP Sgt. John Ploetz said.

No injuries were reported when the truck became almost fully engulfed in fire between 3:30 and 4 a.m., added CHP Officer Gus Lopez.

A call came in about 3:30 a.m. of a big rig with a wheel on fire, he said. The truck was still moving, but eventually stopped in the northbound slow lane.

The fire spread throughout the trailer and cab, which the CHP dispatch said was hauling asparagus.

The fire was so hot that it melted the trailer into two separate pieces, Lopez said.

Once the fire was out shortly after 4 a.m., and the semi had cooled, tow trucks had to be sent to the scene, he said.

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