Maine school bus damaged in fire

PORTLAND, Maine — A school bus was heavily damaged in a fire on Thursday while the bus was being repaired.

The Portland Public Schools bus, which was five years old, was in a parking lot near the district's transportation center on the grounds of a high school.

The district said in a press release that an employee was patching the bus’ seats using tape, liquid vinyl and a heat gun when the fire began. The Portland Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze.

No one was injured in the fire, but the district reported in the press release that the bus sustained "extensive damage."

According to the Portland Press Herald, district officials said that preliminary estimates put the damage to the bus at about $35,000.

Other news related to bus fires:

• New standard for fire suppression systems in buses

• Fire from blown tire destroys bus