The fire erupted while the bus was traveling north on U.S. 29 around 3:20 p.m. Thursday, en route to a 6 p.m. game at Shenandoah University. A few passengers smelled smoke, so the bus pulled over at Monacan Trail and Red Hill roads, said William Clark, an investigator with the Albemarle County Fire Marshal's Office.
Clark said the fire had started near the right rear wheels. A tow-truck driver who was behind the bus reported seeing a flame about 20 feet long shooting behind it.
It is unusual for a bus to catch fire while it is running, Clark said.
"Car fires can happen, but usually car fires happen when you stop the car," said Clark, explaining that the motor is hottest when it is first shut off because movement provides a constant cooling airflow. "It is very rare that a fire would start from a moving vehicle."
The 1986 MCI charter bus was destroyed, with the tires melted to the road. Clark estimated the bus was worth $100,000.
Another bus was being called in to finish transporting the team.
Albemarle police Sgt. Darrell Byers said the fire shut the road down in both directions for about 45 minutes.
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