Smoking bus quickly doused

Photo: Contributed - Paul Cousins

The BX Fire Chief credited quick thinking by Department of Defence personnel after a bus they were on began smoking.

Fire Chief Bill Wacey said the bus was coming down Silver Star Road about 3:45 p.m. Monday when both rear brakes caught fire.

"They pulled off to the side of the road and - quick thinking on their part - they started throwing a fire extinguisher at it to slow it down and help cool it down until we got there. We extinguished both sets of brakes."

Wacey said about three bus loads of personnel, all staying at the Vernon Army Camp, were coming down after enjoying a day at Silver Star.

The affected bus was the last one of the convoy.

"There was a lot of damage to the brakes. It took us a while to get them cooled down but definitely a resourceful group of individuals."

Wacey said the fire hot enough that the floor boards inside the bus were cherry red.

The group had to wait around for another bus to come and take them back to the base.

The bus was towed away for repairs.