Field trip bus catches fire in Chilliwack, students make it out safe: RCMP
Posted June 8, 2023 10:47 am.
Last Updated June 8, 2023 10:31 pm.
A coach bus that was transporting students to a field trip caught fire in Chilliwack Thursday morning, the RCMP says.
The RCMP says first responders received reports of the fire along Vedder Mountain Road just after 9:30 a.m.
“The vehicle that was on fire was a hired coach bus that was transporting students from a West Vancouver elementary school to a field trip on Cultus Lake,” explained Sgt. Krista Vrolyk with the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP.
She says everyone was able to make it out of the bus safely, adding the students “have proceeded on to their field trip.”
“It’s great news that everybody was able to exit the bus safely and alternate transportation was able to take them up to Cultus for their field trip. There were a lot of cheers when the bus rolled out because the kids were really looking forward to the field trip, so lots of excitement for these kids,” Vrolyk said.
Vedder Mountain Road closure
Images shared with CityNews show thick smoke rising from a heavily treed area.
Assistant Chief for the Chilliwack Fire Department, Chris Wilson, says the fire spread from the bus to a workshop on a nearby private property, but it did not ignite any forested area.
“The risk for wildland fires is elevated right now with the dryness and elevated temperatures but we were able to quickly act on the fire and utilized several of our water tenders to shuttle water to the site,” he told CityNews, adding the fire has been put out.
No injuries have been reported.
Chwk Fire Dept has responded to a bus & structure fire on Vedder Mountain Road. Crews report the fire is largely contained and doesn’t appear to have spread to the nearby forested area. No injuries have been reported. BC Wildfire Service is monitoring the situation.
— City of Chilliwack (@City_Chilliwack) June 8, 2023
Wilson says Vedder Mountain Road is closed between Giesbrecht and Cultus Lake roads and will remain shut while crews continue their mop-up. The road is expected to open sometime Thursday afternoon.
People are being asked to avoid the area as crews tend to the site.
Road closure: Chilliwack RCMP and Chilliwack Fire Dept are currently on scene to a vehicle fire in the 44400 blk of Vedder Mountain Rd which will be closed to all traffic until the fire is extinguished. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/sxR5IJY1tD
— Upper Fraser Valley RCMP (@UFVRD_RCMP) June 8, 2023
You can take Keith Wilson Road as an alternate route.
Listen to CityNews 1130 for traffic updates every 10 minutes on the ones. You can also follow us on Twitter @CityNewsTraffic and subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
