Trucker escapes straw fire north of Pasco

Quick thinking saved a trucker early this afternoon north of Pasco, letting him escape a cargo fire that sent a large plume of smoke into the sky.

The man was hauling straw on Highway 395 when another truck driver signaled to him to look behind him.

He told officials that he saw one of his two trailers on fire.

The driver pulled onto Vineyard Drive north of Pasco, unhooked the trailer and pulled forward, fire officials said. He called 911 around 1:25 p.m.

Franklin County fire districts 3 and 5 put down the fire, which destroyed the trailer and straw, and damaged a nearby power pole. Vineyard Drive was closed for a couple of hours.

The smoke was visible from the highway.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., but people will likely be in the area working for the next few hours.

No one was injured.