A tractor-trailer carrying hay caught fire Tuesday afternoon snarling traffic on Highway 401 east of Cobourg.
Today’s Northumberland reports Cobourg and Hamilton Township firefighters responded to a transport fire in the eastbound lanes near the Grafton exit around 1:45 p.m.
Fire crews worked continuously for several hours to extinguish the fire with heavy equipment brought in to remove the hay from the flat-bed trailer so they could put out hidden hot spots that were buried within the load.
All eastbound lanes had to be closed, causing traffic to back up for more than 10 kilometres past Cobourg.
The highway was fully reopened around 9 p.m.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
