Updated: Highway 17 Open Following Nitrogen Big-Rig Fire

Update: 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6: Highway 17 is open this morning, following a seven-hour shutdown caused when a tractor-trailer hauling nitrogen caught fire on the Santa Clara County side of the mountain road, the California Highway Patrol reported.

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Update: 12:19 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6: Fire crews responding to a tractor-trailer fire that erupted at about 10 p.m. Wednesday evening near Summit Road are saying residents who live in the Redwood Estates community in Los Gatos weren't evaculated due to the blaze and that no injuries have been reported.

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A severe traffic alert is in effect for both directions of Highway 17 in the area of Summit Road in Los Gatos due to a tractor trailer and hillside on fire.

Traffic in the southbound direction is being diverted off at Bear Creek Road. Motorists are advised to expect delays and avoid the area. There is no estimated time for reopening of the roadway, according to 511 Traffic page.

The accident closed the highway in both directions and its subsequent fire was reported at 10:11 p.m. near the summit of the winding road between San Jose and Santa Cruz.

California Highway Patrol announced the highway would be closed in both directions at 10:36 p.m.

The big-rig involved was a nitrogen tanker truck that caught fire near Redwood Estates in Los Gatos, according to the CHP traffic incident report posted online. The flames spread to a nearby hillside.

—Bay City News and Patch Editor Jennifer Squires contributed to this report