Bus fire in Prospect Heights, 2-6-14

This report comes from Drew Smith:

Full-Force Pace Bus Fire at Apple and Milwaukee Addresses: E39, S9, S42, B9, and A9 Respond

On Thursday, February 6th, at 3:10 p.m., Engine 39 and Battalion 9 were called to a fire involving a Pace bus near Apple Drive and Milwaukee Avenue in Prospect Heights. Upon arrival, Engine 39 reported that the fire was in a Pace bus located just a block west of Milwaukee Avenue. The crew immediately began laying down a line to combat the flames. Battalion 9 arrived two minutes later and requested additional support from the RED Center, specifically Squad 9.

The bus driver confirmed that all passengers had safely exited and no one was injured. However, the fire had already spread to the rear section of the bus and extended to both sides and underneath, including all four rear tires. Squad 9 deployed a second line to help contain the blaze.

As the fire proved difficult to control and the weather conditions worsened, Battalion 9 requested assistance from Ambulance 9 and Wheeling Squad 42. Foam from Engine 39 was used to suppress the fire, while Squad 9 and Squad 42 used a K-12 saw to cut open the sides and floor of the bus in an effort to access the source of the fire. Unfortunately, cutting through the floor proved ineffective due to the design of the bus and the metal plate covering the undercarriage.

Engine 39's driver had to manually shovel out a fire hydrant to secure a steady water supply. Several SCBA masks and regulators froze due to the extreme cold, and firefighters found themselves coated in frozen foam, resembling snowmen. More than a dozen spare air tanks were used before the fire was finally extinguished. After over an hour of intense firefighting, a Pace wrecker was able to lift the bus, allowing crews to ensure the fire was completely out.

Drew Smith photo

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