Santa Maria Fire and police officers responded to a fire around 10 a.m. Wednesday on Industrial Parkway in Santa Maria, next to the Cool Pak facility, which sent a thick column of black smoke into the air and attracted curious employees from nearby businesses.

Fire crews and police directed traffic away from the area. Several bystanders, including nearby workers, said they observed what appeared to be two trucks on fire, though officials have not confirmed the number or type of vehicles.

One witness, Nathan Calhoun, of Orcutt, said he was driving in the area when he saw smoke from Highway 135 and approached to see what was happening. He said he saw large flames coming from the vehicles being extinguished by firefighters.

“They quickly deployed the fire hose and put out the fire within t

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