Four people were injured, two critically, in a fiery multi-vehicle crash on Highway 1 south of Lompoc Tuesday, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The collision, which shut down the highway in both directions, occurred shortly after 6 p.m. 11 miles north of Highway 101, fire Capt. Mike Gray said.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find one vehicle on fire, but were able to extinguish the flames before they spread to the surrounding brush, Gray said.

Two people suffered major injuries, and one was airlifted by a county helicopter to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The other, along with two patients with moderate injuries, were taken by ground ambulance to local hospitals.

Their names and details on their conditions were not available.

The 3-vehicle collision remained under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

“Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes,” Gray said.