Two School Bus Fires Investigated In South Carolina

Sept. 1, 2004
Education Department officials are investigating what caused two Belton-Honea Path High School buses to catch fire in separate incidents in the past week.
HONEA PATH, S.C. (AP) -- Education Department officials are investigating what caused two Belton-Honea Path High School buses to catch fire in separate incidents in the past week.

No one has been hurt.

An engineering associate planned to visit Anderson Wednesday to find out what led to the fires, said Robbie Adams with the Education Departments transportation office.

Both are 1995 Thomas Built buses with engines in the back. Newer models have engines in front.

One fire occurred Friday night as a bus carrying band members approached the Greenville-Anderson county line on U.S. Highway 76. Football coaches following the bus spotted smoke coming from the engine and got out to extinguish it.

Late Tuesday morning, another bus caught fire as it headed back to Belton-Honea Path High School from the Career and Technology Center in Williamston.

Both buses are out of service for now. Adams said it is likely the buses will be repaired and returned to the fleet.

``I think these two incidents were coincidental,'' Adams said.

Information from: Anderson Independent-Mail

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