Hillside brush fire 80% contained on Cuesta Grade along Highway 101

A brush fire that erupted Friday near the Cuesta Grade summit along Highway 101 was 80% contained Saturday morning.

The fire, which was reported at at 3:09 p.m., was initially estimated to be around fives acres with a potential spread to as large as 50 acres, according to firefighters reporting over the radio from the scene.

It was burning uphill on the northbound side of the highway, going from grass to brush.

By 4:20 p.m., the so-called Summit Fire had spread to eight acres, but crews reported making good progress.

No structures were being threatened by the fire, but high-voltage power lines were located in the area, according to radio traffic.

Forward progress was stopped at 5 p.m.

The CHP closed the No. 3 lane, and the fire backed up northbound traffic on the highway during an already-busy Friday afternoon commute, as far as the middle of San Luis Obispo.

Fire breaks out on Highway 1 near Cambria

The Cuesta Grade fire wasn’t the only one to break out on Friday afternoon.

A small brush fire also started at 1:56 p.m. in Cambria off Highway 1.

The fire, which broke out near the old radar station, was knocked down by fire crews at 4:22 p.m., according to a Cal Fire post on X, formerly Twitter.

The fire burned two acres and did not damage any structures.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.