2002 International Re Bus Problems

SINCE WE HAD A REAR-ENGINE BUS CATCH FIRE LAST OCTOBER (DETAILS OF THAT VEHICLE INCLUDED WITH THIS COMPLAINT), I HAVE BECOME VERY SENSITIVE TO STORIES REGARDING SIMILAR INCIDENTS. SINCE WE HAD THE FIRE, I HAVE SEEN 3 OR 4 ARTICLES LIKE THE RECENT ONE PASTED IN BELOW ON RE SCHOOL BUSES THROUGHOUT THE NATION CATCHING FIRE AND BURNING. THE STORIES ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON--THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (LIKE OURS DID). I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF SOME SORT OF SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH RE SCHOOL BUSES. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM OR IF THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO? THE NTSB DID INVESTIGATE OUR FIRE AND COMPLETED A FACTUAL REPORT FOR US BUT IT DID NOT SPECIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE INVESTIGATORS TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT NORMALLY LOOK FOR A CAUSE UNLESS THERE ARE CASUALTIES. PLEASE NOTE: MY COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT OUR SPECIFIC INCIDENT; IT IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL RECENT STORIES ABOUT RE SCHOOL BUSES THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER VERY SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. 10/7/2006 - SPECIAL TO THE POST-JOURNAL CASSADAGA OLEAN HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADERS SPENT FRIDAY CHEERING THEIR BUS DRIVER AND THE CASSADAGA VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS INSTEAD OF THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM AFTER THEIR BUS CAUGHT FIRE ON THE WAY TO DUNKIRK. THE BUS CAUGHT FIRE JUST SOUTH OF CASSADAGA ON ROUTE 60. ALLEN PARKER, CASSADAGA FIRE CHIEF, SAID THE BUS DRIVER GOT THE 13 CHEERLEADERS AND TWO PARENTS SAFELY OFF THE BUS BEFORE HE EXITED IT HIMSELF. EVERYONE GOT OFF THE BUS WITHOUT ANY INJURIES, PARKER SAID. HE SAID THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE REAR ENGINE OF THE BUS AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, LEAVING CHARRED REMNANTS OF THE BUS ONCE FIREFIGHTERS PUT THE FIRE OUT. I WOULD SAY IT WAS PROBABLY TOTALED, HE SAID. THE BUS PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE CASSADAGA FIRE HALL AND WERE TREATED TO PIZZA AND DRINKS WHILE THEY WAITED FOR ANOTHER BUS TO TAKE THEM BACK TO OLEAN. THEY MISSED THE FOOTBALL GAME, PARKER SAID. *JB