NUMBER OF U.S. SCHOOL BUS FIRES? While there are credible estimates of school bus fires, industry insiders say reporting is inconsistent across national fire databases. Te National Fire Protection Association claims U.S. fire
departments responded to an average of 2,210 bus fires per year between 1999 and 2003. Te Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said it believes school bus fires occur daily. For verification, FMCSA contracted the John A. Volpe Na- tional Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) to update data on U.S. motorcoach fires occurring between 2009 through 2013, a study that expanded to school buses. Te Volpe Center found that motorcoach fires occur on average slightly less than daily, while school bus fires occur slightly more than daily and result in significant property damage. Deaths and injuries are rare on yellow buses, but the worst-case scenario is devastating. Te most well known example occurred in Carrolton, Kentucky in 1988, when a fire erupted on a converted school bus after a drunk driver collided with it head-on. Twenty-seven people, mostly children, were killed 34 were badly injured 34. Most school bus fires originate in the engine area, running gear and wheels. Nearly 70 percent of school bus fires are sparked by mechanical or electrical failures, and in some cases, an arsonist is to blame. Volpe researchers recommended that the industry share bus fire data and raise awareness through safety training.
The Fogmaker fire suppression system, as shown installed in Kanawha County Schools bus, shoots a mist to help extinguish fires in the engine compartment and buy valuable time for the evacuation of the West Virginia school district’s special-needs students.
Visit us at booth 820
Serving Districts with Special Transportation Needs
• McKinney-Vento • Special Needs Students • Hard-to-Serve Trips • Out-of-District • Multi-District Coordination • ESSA
www.ALCSchools.com www.stnonline.com 41
WHO WE ARE
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