MCTS bus catches fire near 76th and Layton

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Updated: 6:21 p.m. on July 5, 2019

GREENFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The roughly ten passengers aboard a bus that burst into flames Thursday, including a man in a wheelchair, made it off safely thanks to a fast-acting driver who MCTS says followed procedures to a T. 

Cell phone video captured the moments after Milwaukee County Transit bus burst into flames.

MCTS spokeswoman Kristina Hoffman says once the driver, who has more than ten years experience, noticed the smoke, his training kicked in.

"He set the parking brake, opened the doors, and told everyone to get out, while he ran to help a wheelchair bound passenger," Hoffman said.

The driver immediately went back, unhooked the wheelchair with assistance of another passenger, picked it up and moved the man to a safe distance.

Hoffman says everyone was off the bus in under 20 seconds. She says the bus was about seven years old and up to date on maintenance.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but its complete surveillance video from inside the bus will be released and used as a training tool.

"We'll be able to take that back to the drivers, saying 'This is how our bus driver followed our procedures perfectly, use this as a best case example,'" Hoffman said.

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Updated: 6:02 p.m. on July 4, 2019

GREENFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- MCTS officials say a bus driver was able to get all of his passengers off of the bus safely before the back became engulfed in flames Thursday.

The driver noticed smoke coming from outside the back corner of the bus around 4:20 p.m. and immediately pulled over.

He was able to get all 8-10 passengers on board at the time off safely.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Posted: 4:33 p.m. on July 4, 2019

GREENFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee County Transit System bus caught fire near 76th and Layton Thursday.

No injuries have been reported.

It is unknown if any passengers were aboard the bus.

Greenfield Fire Department is at the scene.

Photo courtesy of Barb Dylak

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