A hay truck fire that closed down both lanes of Highway 14 near Pendleton Woolen Mills yesterday is likely due to a mechnical issue.
According to Camas-Washougal Fire Chief Nick Swinhart, a hot exhaust pipe from the engine may have ignited the hay, based on observations at the scene.
“We do not know the precisise cause of the fire and in fact we likely will never know, simply because the truck was destroyed,” he said.
According to witnesses at the scene, motorists on Highway 14 spotted a truck carrying a load of hay that was on fire just before 3 p.m.