Freightliner carrying hay bales ignites brush fire near Tulare

A Freightliner carrying a load of hay bales caught fire Friday near Tulare and caused a brush fire.

William Perry, 46, Visalia, was driving southbound on Highway 99, north of Avenue 200 when the fire started, CHP said.

Perry was driving a set of flatbed trailers with hay bales when the hay became fully engulfed for an unknown reason, CHP said.

The hay bales then fell off the flatbed trailers, causing multiple brush fires along the center divider of Highway 99.

Perry stopped along the right shoulder as the tractor and both trailers became engulfed, CHP said.

The Freightliner tractor and both trailers sustained total fire damage, but Perry was able to exit without any injuries.

This story was originally published June 20, 2015 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Freightliner carrying hay bales ignites brush fire near Tulare."