Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to a vehicle fire early Monday morning after a car hauler carrying exotic cars caught fire on Highway 101 near Buellton.

The fire was reported at 2:03 a.m. near Nojoqui Summit, County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said.

Safechuck confirmed that the hauler driver attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived.

Responding crews were able to extinguish the fire in about half an hour and kept the flames and embers from igniting the nearby brush, he added.

The driver was later examined for injuries, but none were reported.

Safechuck said highway traffic was diverted onto Highway 154 for several hours following the fire.