School bus burns in Blount County, no students hurt
ALCOA, Tenn. — A school bus caught on fire in Alcoa Monday morning near Duncan Station Road and Upton.
Alcoa City Schools students were able to get off the bus and are safe at school. Another bus came to the scene and transported the students.
Firefighters tried to control the flames, however the bus was destroyed.
The Alcoa Fire Department believes the fire started in the engine. The bus number was 47E.
Alcoa City Schools Director Brian Bell says that at about 7 a.m. Monday, the driver heard a pop from the back of a bus carrying students from elementary through high school. He smelled and saw smoke, and pulled over.
Bell says the driver moved students away from the bus and called authorities. Students waited 17 minutes for another bus to pick them up.
By the time the fire department arrived around 20 to 30 minutes later, the bus was completely consumed in flames.
Bell says officials believe a brake overheated or locked up, began melting the tire and slowly started the fire.
The investigation is ongoing.
