Truck fire jams 405 traffic

A tractor trailer truck carrying rags and uniforms caught fire Tuesday afternoon, clogging the southbound 405 freeway as firefighters quickly put out the blaze and California Highway Patrol officers scrambled to direct traffic as three lanes were shut down.

It was about noon when Costa Mesa and Fountain Valley firefighters responded to an Aramark truck pulled over on the shoulder on fire on the southbound 405 just north of Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa fire Capt. Chris Brimhall said.

It took firefighters about 10 minutes to put out the blaze, which proved a bit difficult with rags and uniforms fueling the flames, Brimhall said. The driver escaped injury.

Authorities still had all but two lanes closed two hours after the call, CHP officer Rolf Trondsen said. They have issued a SigAlert until further notice.