Forty-seven school pupils escaped unhurt from a bus fire today.
The children, all believed to be over 12, were on their way to Ballinakill, Co Laois, when the driver noticed smoke emitting from the back.
He pulled over and evacuated all the youngsters safely before using a fire extinguisher on the engine.
Bus Éireann, who had contracted a bus from a local private operator for the school run, has opened an investigation.
“The driver took immediate action, pulled in and safely evacuated 47 post-primary pupils,” a company spokesman said.
The incident occurred at 8.15am on the school run along the Carlow Road from Ballyrowan to Haywood Community College in Ballinakill. Bus Éireann said the driver managed to get the fire under control before driving the empty bus further down the road to a safer spot to pull over.
It is understood the fire re-ignited during the move.
“He tried to put the fire out with an extinguisher,” a spokesman said. “He was successful to a certain extent. He put it out enough to drive it further down the road to a safer location.”
Emergency services were quickly on the scene, Bus Éireann said.
PA