Students on a school trip were reported safe after the bus they were on caught fire on Vedder Mountain Road, say Chilliwack RCMP.
“The vehicle involved was a hired coach transporting students from a West Vancouver elementary school,” said Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, spokesperson for Chilliwack RCMP.
The students were heading for a day at Cultus Lake.
“All occupants of the bus were able to exit safely and have proceeded on to their field trip to Cultus Lake.”
Chilliwack Fire crews with approximately 32 firefighters battled the blaze which had spread from the bus, to hedges, to a workshop.
“Fire crews immediately began attacking the fire and established a rural water supply setup utilizing water tanker trucks,” said assistant fire chief Chris Wilson.
“Their efforts, successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the forested area at the base of Vedder Mountain.”
Both the tour bus and workshop sustained heavy fire, smoke and water damage, but there were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported. The bus driver and all passengers made it out safely.
The cause of this fire is currently under investigation by Chilliwack Fire officials, and RCMP.
The road was closed to all traffic between Giebsrecht Road and Cultus Lake Road, Columbia Valley Highway, almost two hours later as firefighters worked to put out the fire.
Chilliwack Fire Department was called to the scene at about 9:30 a.m.
Reports from the scene said the bus caught fire after blowing a tire, which then spread to a nearby property.
RCMP was on-scene at about 9:43 a.m to handle traffic control at 44408 Vedder Mountain Road as there were children on the road at the time.
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