Ten bales of hay in the back of a pickup truck heading west on State Route 104 caught fire at 6:20 p.m., July 24 east of Sandy Shore Road. By coincidence, a truck carrying fire extinguishers was on the same stretch of road, and its driver stopped to help.

Smoke from the fire halted traffic in both directions for approximately 30 minutes, according to Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue Chief Brad Martin.

“The driver of the delivery truck began handing fire extinguishers out to others who had stopped to help,” said Martin. “That was a huge help as the wind had picked up, and the bystanders kept the fire from extending into the dry grass along the highway, which could have made the situation significantly worse.”

Cause of the fire was undetermined. No injuries were reported.

Port Ludlow Fire and Rescue, East Jefferson Fire Rescue, Quilcene Fire Rescue, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol all responded to the incident.