Support for West Michigan marching band ‘overwhelming’ after bus fire
CARSON CITY, Mich. (WOOD) — A West Michigan high school marching band will return home Wednesday night from a trip to Florida where their bus caught fire, destroying the vehicle and belongings.
On Monday, the Carson City-Crystal High School band was scheduled to take part in a Florida tradition.
“Every four years, our high school band goes down to perform at either Disney or Universal Studios, this year it was Universal Studios. So we were down there to march in a parade,” said band director Chad Parmenter.
This year, that performance never happened.
While heading to a hotel in Florida Sunday night, two bus tires blew out on the highway. But that was far from the end of their troubles.
“Shortly after that, we had smoke in our cabin and flames coming up the side of the bus,” Parmenter said. “My kids did an awesome job, they were good at getting out with nobody getting hurt.”
All 50-plus people on the bus, including 35 students, were safe. But the same could not be said for the items left behind.
“We had clothes, we had phones, we had iPads, Chromebooks, souvenirs from the day at Magic Kingdom,” Parmenter said. “Anything that was inside the bus and in their luggage ended up being consumed.
The band’s instruments and uniforms also had severe smoke damage.
With help from the company that chartered the bus, the band got a new bus so their Florida trip could continue. They also received assistance to purchase clothes.
Donations from the community helped with pillows and blankets for the ride back to Michigan, which started on Tuesday. Meyer Music also donated instruments, so the school’s honor band can move forward with a Thursday performance.
“It’s kind of really overwhelming how much support we’ve gotten from people all over the United States, all over Michigan,” Parmenter said.
He said the trip didn’t go exactly as planned, but it has brought his students closer together.
“Just to see them rise above things, work together and take care of each other, it’s amazing to me,” Parmenter said.’
“The whole Meyer Music team was saddened for the Carson City students and we wanted to ensure the music could go on. We’re happy to provide instruments for the students participating in the Honors Band performance so they can hopefully still enjoy their experience despite the circumstances.
“While all Meyer Music rental instruments come with repair and replacement coverage, bus fires certainly aren’t a common reason for instruments to show up in our shop. Our team of repair techs will make sure that those players can get back to playing as soon as possible.”
Lindy Scripps, Co-Owner Meyer Music
Parmenter said they’re continuing to work with the bus company to figure out what can be done about the personal items that were lost.
The band is expected to make it home around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. Wednesday.
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