CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Clarksville-Montgomery County School Bus 01-104 caught fire on Southside Road early Thursday morning as it was stopping to pick up students who attend Montgomery Central Middle and High Schools.
Officials said no students were injured during the incident. Bus driver Brittany Sigears smelled smoke and immediately began evacuating the bus, which is a total loss.
After evacuation the bus driver noticed flames and eventually the bus was fully engulfed in flames.
The school bus was a substitute for bus 806, which had been damaged the previous day by impact with a deer. The 20 students who were riding the bus were transferred to another bus and delivered to their schools.
“We take pride in the safety training and protocols we have in place and commend Ms. Sigears for her conscientiousness in protecting our students,” said Schools Director Millard House II.
Courtesy: CMCSS
Tennessee Highway Patrol and CMCSS Transportation staff investigated the cause of the fire on the 2001 Bluebird front engine passenger bus.
Lt. Bill Miller with THP said members of the THP transportation division inspected the us and determined an electrical short caused the fire.
“We are so thankful that everyone got off the bus safely,” he said.
Elise Shelton, spokesperson for CMCSS, said because all 31 school buses are the same make and model they were brought into the maintenance garage for inspection.
“These buses are inspected regularly once a year by Tennessee Highway Patrol and then regularly by our maintenance people,” Shelton said.
After inspection, it was determined that the buses were safe and they were returned to their routes this afternoon.