Ceres bus catches fire

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Investigators are looking at faulty electrical wiring as the possible cause of fire in a Ceres Liner bus at Purok Rosas, Barangay Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, city police chief, said the bus driver noticed smoke coming from under the vehicle upon reaching the said area.

This prompted him to stop at the roadside and advised passengers to disembark the vehicle.

Malong said the fire broke out around 6:05 a.m. while the bus was on its way to Bacolod from Hinigaran town.

The bus driver tried to stop the fire by throwing sand. But the fire eventually grew bigger and destroyed the vehicle.

Malong said the bus driver told the police that they are checking the vehicle before traveling, and there was no problem when they left Hinigaran town.

The fire reportedly broke out from the engine of the bus, where the smoke came from. It lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Malong could not provide more details pending investigation by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

She said the incident did not cause disruption of traffic in the said area.

No casualty was reported in the incident, as passengers were able to transfer from other vehicles before the fire grew bigger, she said.

Meanwhile, Jade Seballos, media and legal officer of Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), said they could not release an official statement yet, as they are waiting for the investigation report from the BFP about the incident.

She, however, said that this is the first time that one of their bus units caught fire.