Truck on Fire Shut 101 Southbound Lanes Between Ukiah and Hopland, Humboldt County Woman Assists Truck Driver

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A semi truck on fire temporarily closed the southbound lanes of Hwy 101 south of Talmadge. [Photo provided by Diana Totten]

A Humboldt County woman, Diana Totten, helped a truck driver to safety when his semi began smoking and then blazing between south of Ukiah about 10 a.m. The driver was trying to put it out with a fire extinguisher.

Totten, who is a retired firefighter, says she called in the incident. Then she convinced the driver that he would be in danger if he didn’t stop fighting the flames. “It was too big,” she said.

Fire crews from the area arrived and “knocked it down fairly quickly before it spread much into the wildland,” she explained.

All southbound lanes were blocked for approximately twenty minutes while the big truck burned.

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silverlining
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silverlining
8 years ago

Another Diana helps save the day story? We need some sort of cartoon super hero graphic for her at this point.

veteransfriend
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veteransfriend
8 years ago
Reply to  silverlining

I agree!

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

We don’t need no stinkin’ cartoon, we got Diana. You go girl. The lady is an inspiration to us all!

“I don’t want you to have an emergency, but if you do, I want to be there”. Diana Totton

VHDA
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VHDA
8 years ago
Reply to  silverlining

Yeah Diana to the rescue once again!!

beel
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beel
8 years ago

*Talmage.
In honor of early settler Junius Talmage.

Bob Harris
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Bob Harris
8 years ago

She’s everywhere doing everything. She’s a super hero.

Pepe Le Pew
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Pepe Le Pew
8 years ago

Dianna Totten must wake up every morning with a prayer request to be in place where & when she might be needed.

Dick Wright
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Dick Wright
8 years ago

Thanks for the update, this looks all too familiar to those of us fighting CARB over their mandated particulate filters for diesel trucks. We have documented scores of fires just like this and would welcome any additional information that becomes available.

Did you notice the intensity of the fire? The cabs in these fires burn completely to the ground because of the heat generated by the filters (placed very near the fuel tanks) and are unlike any fires from years past.

Dick Wright
Shasta County Coordination Committee