The recent fire Dec. 31,'06 that destroyed a Peter Pan-Bonanza coach has added yet another chapter to the ongoing industry-wide discussion of motorcoach fires. Media attention on motorcoach fires reached its incendiary point near Dallas, Texas in Sept. 2005, when a "Global Limo" E-model MCI burst into flames killing 23 nursing home patients who were being evacuated from Houston to Dallas ahead of a forecasted Hurricane Rita landfall. The fire was reportedly caused by a bad bearing in the rear right wheel, according to NTSB final investigation. It is also likely that oxygen tanks stored improperly caused the explosions that rapidly devastated the fully involved fire scene.

Other widely reported fires have grabbed the attention of the media regionally, such as the 2006 Fung Wah bus fire in Meriden, CT. (I.91) where all passengers were evacuated successfully before the coach was fully involved.

I thought it would be prudent to summarize the causes of motorcoach fires as a I recall them...
Here are the causes of fires on motorcoaches in the last years in my memory:

1. Running on a flat tire. Tire rubs against flammable objects such as plastic wheel guards, rubber mud guards, other tires, etc.
2. Brake fires. Not properly releasing brake drums. Drums get red hot and eventually involve the tire and wheels.
3. Turbo-fire. This is from the diesel turbo in the engine. Usually accompanied by a large "bang", and lots of heavy smoke. Turbo-fires eventually involve fuel and oil lines which have flammable materials.
4. Wheel bearing. Friction from a locked up wheel bearing causes heat on axle and hub. (Global Limo bus fire, Hurricane Rita evacuation near Dallas,Tx. Sept. '05, 23 fatalities.)
5. AC Compressor Multiplex wiring. Recent problems with new J models in the clutch bundle- wiring on the lower left side of the coach (compressor compartment) caused a fire in early 2006.
6. Front defroster motor. Short circuit in defroster motor - fan motor going to a high speed without being controlled by the side switch - caused rapidly advancing fire in front compartment of coach (Dec.31,'06).
7. Snow Chains (winter): Improper usage. Running bus at highway speeds on drive-tire snow-chains causing sparks with highway pavement, and creating an ignition to burn the rear tires. (Greyhound: Dec.'06 Washington State, G4500 total loss.)
8. Webasto Preheater: This is the one cylinder engine attached to the MCI DL102 coach/Detroit Diesel engine that is designed to preheat the coolant reservoir in subzero temperatures. It is capable of operating without the engine running. There have been problems regarding oil or fuel leaks and/or electrical shorts circuits that have caused combustion/fire.

Needless to say, one of the responsibilities of the motorcoach operator in the early signs of a potential bus fire (i.e. the smell of smoke, burnt wires, the feeling of brakes hanging up, the sight of sparks, etc.) is to immediately shut down the master power handle at the battery compartment. If indeed, the fire is electrical in origin, it is possible terminating the source (24 volts) may temper the fire situation.