A Festus R-6 School District bus was destroyed by fire late afternoon Monday, July 7, Festus Fire Chief Jeff Broombaugh reported.
He said his department received a call from a passerby at 5:30 p.m. about the fire at the district’s bus barn parking lot, 11311 Pounds Road.
“It was a small fire in the engine that spread to the interior of the bus,” Broombaugh said today, July 8. “It’s a rear-engine bus. There was a pretty good fire in the engine compartment. I believe it’s a total loss. The fire was contained to the bus. It was under control by 5:49 p.m.
“It was investigated and the cause (was) left undetermined because there was a significant amount of damage. It’s not considered suspicious, but we don’t have a cause.”
Another bus parked nearby sustained a little damage due to the heat of the fire, he said.
“It was minimal damage,” Broombaugh said. “(That) bus is drivable.”
He said no injuries were reported.
Firefighters remained on the scene until about 6:45 p.m., he said. The Crystal City and Herculaneum fire departments and Hematite, Mapaville, Dunklin and Jefferson R-7 fire districts helped with the fire and the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District also responded.
“Because of the way dispatchers operate, large vehicles get a bigger response than car fires,” Broombaugh said.