generic Charter bus fire closes Route 61 in West Brunswick Twp.
Jul. 31—ORWIGSBURG — Part of a charter bus carrying employees of CACL Financial caught fire Saturday afternoon, shutting down a portion of Route 61.
Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at 1038 Centre Turnpike in West Brunswick Twp. just before 5 p.m., Deer Lake-West Brunswick Fire Company Assistant Chief Michael Strouse said.
CACL Chief Operating Officer Josh Burgess said 14 people from the credit union in Pottsville and their driver were returning to the city from a team-building event at Maple Grove Raceway outside Reading when they felt the bus hit something on the road.
The driver pulled over the bus in front of the former Riverview Financial bank building and when it did, the occupants noticed a tire on fire.
"Everyone got out and a passing motorist called 911," said Burgess, who was among those on board. "It was unforeseeable, but everyone was OK."
It took firefighters 45 minutes to put out the fire, which Strouse said was limited to the engine department at the back of the bus.
No injuries were reported.
Responding to the scene were fire crews from Deer Lake-West-Brunswick, Auburn, Landingville and Orwigsburg, along with state police, who are handling the investigation.
Fire police had the highway closed in both directions at South Liberty Street to the Vintage 61 antique store as crews extinguished the fire. It was reopened just after 5 p.m.
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