4 buses burn at Ill. elementary school
Sheriff's deputies and fire personnel respond to a report of buses on fire and find four school buses aflame in the school's parking lot. Officials are considering the fire suspicious in nature but are not labeling it arson.
ELGIN, Ill. — Kane County sheriff's deputies and Pingree Grove fire personnel responding to a report of buses on fire on Friday found four school buses aflame in the Prairie View Grade School parking lot.
By the time fire personnel were able to extinguish the fire, all four buses were a total loss.
Central Community Unit School District 301 officials were contacted and responded to the scene. School officials along with sheriff's deputies inspected the school to ensure that the damage was limited to the buses and that the school was secure.
The school suffered no damage, and nothing suspicious was located. The school was able to open on time, and different buses assumed the routes of the damaged buses.
Sheriff's detectives are working with members of the Kane County Fire Investigations Task Force and State Fire Marshal to determine what caused the fire. Currently, officials are considering the fire suspicious in nature but are not labeling it arson.
No one has been taken into custody for the incident, and the fire remains under investigation.
The school district did not yet have a damage estimate for the buses.
More Safety

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →

