Bus Fire Quickly Contained, None Injured

A bus driver and monitor were unhurt as firefighters were able to quickly contain an engine fire onboard a miniature school bus in the vicinity of Lickety Splits around 12:45 p.m. Monday afternoon.

No children were aboard the bus when its engine compartment began belching smoke around 12:40 p.m. on Kingstown Road, according to reports from South Kingstown Fire Dispatchers. Union Fire District Engine 3 from Station 3 was first on the scene and called a code red as the engine compartment was observed completely engulfed in flames.

Deputy Chief Jack Carney reported the fire knocked down and a code yellow for units on scene some five minutes later. According to Carney, the firefighters used a hand line to tackle the flames as they singed the entire engine compartment.  

According to the South Kingstown Schools' Director of Administrative Services John Ritchotte, the model year 2007 bus was designated number 52 and was headed back to the terminal and empty. Ritchotte added the department is already in possession of a replacement. "It appeared the horn got stuck, and then it started smoldering under the hood, so it had something to do with that relay that started the fire."