California Highway Patrol is investigating a fire that forced the evacuation of 23 students from a Coachella Valley Unified School District bus on Friday morning.
According to Twitter updates issued by Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire Department, paramedics evaluated the bus driver for possible injuries, but he declined further medical attention. None of the students were reported to be harmed.
Firefighters responded at 8:44 a.m. to Pierce Street and Avenue 66 in Thermal, finding on arrival that the school bus fire was "well involved." They anticipated remaining on the scene for 30 minutes.
According to Twitter, firefighters would be posting more information on the incident as it became available.
In addition to providing a map of the scene, the Twitter report said: "Commercial Vehicle Fire - 8:44 a.m. Pierce St X Ave 66, in Thermal. Firefighters responded to a school bus well involved. Paramedics are evaluating one adult patient for possible injuries. More information will be posted as it becomes available."
According to The Desert Sun, the school bus impacted by fire was a Coachella Valley Unified School District bus that contained 23 students. Excessive smoke flowing from the vehicle's exhaust system caught the attention of a passerby, who informed the bus driver. That report enabled the school bus driver to pull safely to the side of the road and evacuate the children, all of whom escaped harm. What was first described as smoke then became the fire that was quite active upon the firefighters' arrival, the article said.
According to the newspaper, the bus was on its way to Toro Canyon Middle School when the fire changed plans dramatically. As part of the investigation, Riverside County Fire and California Highway Patrol took statements from the students who were then transported to school by a replacement bus called to assist.
The cause of the fire is the subject of an ongoing investigation.