On a Tuesday morning in Montreal, a school bus carrying five young children burst into flames, creating a chaotic scene near Jean-Talon Street and Victoria Avenue in Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Thankfully, quick action led to the safe evacuation of all passengers, including the driver and the children, who were approximately six years old.
The fire, which was not linked to the bus being electric, was swiftly contained by the Montreal Fire Department, arriving on the scene in record time. Despite efforts to control the blaze, the bus itself was unfortunately destroyed in the process.
According to Martin Guilbault, a division chief with the Montreal Fire Department, the cause of the fire is still under investigation but did not involve the bus battery. The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal confirmed that the bus, a Lion Electric vehicle operated by Transco, underwent regular mechanical checks and stressed their commitment to student safety.
While the incident is not considered criminal, authorities are working with insurance companies to determine the exact cause of the fire. Parents were promptly informed, and a replacement bus was dispatched to ensure the children’s safe transport.
