Fire on bus carrying school children cuts road and power in Chilliwack, B.C.

CHILLIWACK, B.C. – A bus carrying elementary school students on a field trip has caught fire on a road in Chilliwack, B.C., spreading to a nearby structure and cutting power to the area before being extinguished.

The City of Chilliwack says no injuries were reported and crews contained the blaze near Cultus Lake on Vedder Mountain Road, about 95 kilometres east of Vancouver, before it could spread to nearby woods.

Local television showed the charred wreckage of the bus, hedges and a nearby shed.

Chilliwack RCMP say they had to close the 4400 block of the road as firefighters battled the flames, telling people to avoid the area until it was put out.

BC Hydro says power went out for nearly 2,500 customers as a result of the fire but was restored a few hours later.

The city says campfire bans in Chilliwack went into effect at noon Thursday.

— With files from CityNews.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.