Students on a school trip to Cultus Lake 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 Vancouver students were en route to Cultus Lake for a day trip.
“All occupants of the bus were able to exit safely and have proceeded on to their field trip to Cultus Lake.”
Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP were called out Thursday morning after a bus was fully engulfed in flames on the side of Vedder Mountain Road that spread to some trees, and an outbuilding.
Updates from the scene were that the fire was contained and did not spread to the forested area. BC Wildfire officials were monitoring the situation.
The road was still closed to all traffic between Giebsrecht Road and Cultus Lake Road, Columbia Valley Highway, almost two hours later.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Chilliwack RCMP and Chilliwack Fire Department.
Chilliwack Fire Department fire crews, tender trucks and engines raced to the scene from several fire halls after the call at about 9:30 a.m.
Reports from the scene said the bus caught fire after blowing a tire, and flames 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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