LYNCHBURG, Va. – UPDATE
Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Strategic Planning for Lynchburg City Schools Dr. Reid Wodicka said a bus driver smelled smoke and alerted first responders that it caught fire Tuesday morning.
“As they arrived at E.C. Glass High School this morning with both E.C. Glass and Dunbar Middle School students on board, there was a small fire in the drive train related to a hydraulic line that apparently got loose,” Dr. Wodicka said.
School officials tell us the bus involved was one of 25 new electric buses, but the electric component had nothing to do with the fire.
No one was injured in the fire.
“I think the emergency procedures we have certainly took effect, and that’s why we practice,” Dr. Wodicka said. “It actually happened to be a practice day for our bus evacuations.”
Each school bus will be inspected by the bus dealer Sonny Merryman.
“We will make sure that any issue is addressed,” Dr. Wodicka siad. “We don’t foresee that being the case, but if there are any system-wide concerns we will address those.”
School leaders said there are no route changes, and the bus should be back on the road once repaired.
ORIGINAL STORY
No one was hurt after a school bus caught fire at E.C. Glass High School Tuesday morning, according to the Lynchburg Fire Department.
Authorities said at about 7:30 a.m., a bus driver smelled smoke and alerted authorities.
Fortunately, no students were hurt.
Crews believe that a hydraulic line underneath the bus broke and started the fire. It was extinguished within a few minutes and the EV battery portion of the bus was not involved.