District to Deploy Fogmaker Fire Suppression in School Buses

Mobile County (Ala.) Public Schools will install Fogmaker North America’s fire suppression system on all of its 100 special-needs school buses. The district will eventually add the system to its remaining 600 buses.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

August 20, 2019

District to Deploy Fogmaker Fire Suppression in School Buses — Mobile County (Ala.) Public Schools will install Fogmaker North America’s fire suppression system on all of its 100 special-needs school buses and will eventually add the system to its remaining 600 buses. Photo courtesy Fogmaker North America

2 min to read

Mobile County (Ala.) Public Schools will install Fogmaker North America’s fire suppression system on all of its 100 special-needs school buses and will eventually add the system to its remaining 600 buses. Photo courtesy Fogmaker North America

MOBILE, Ala. — A school district here has announced immediate plans to deploy a fire suppression system in all of its special-needs school buses and eventual plans to add the system to the rest of its buses.

Mobile County Public Schools will install Fogmaker North America’s fire suppression system for engine compartments on all of its 100 special-needs school buses within 60 days, according to a news release from the system supplier. The district will eventually equip its remaining 600 buses with Fogmaker’s self-contained water mist fire suppression system.

"As the largest school district in Alabama, we serve as a role model with the deployment of proven technology to enhance the safety of our students," said Pat Mitchell, the district’s director of transportation. "We believe the installation of Fogmaker fire suppression systems confirm that commitment to our students, their parents, and to our local communities."

As SBF previously reported, in June, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued several safety recommendations as a result of its investigation into the fatal 2017 school bus fire in Iowa, including one on school buses being equipped with automatic fire suppression systems.

"We commend Mobile County Public Schools as they take this substantial step of adding additional safety to their bus fleet," said Kent Tyler, executive vice president of Fogmaker North America. "I think we would all agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation on the road. But as the NTSB outlined during their recent hearing, fire suppression is a critically important safety issue. Our patented Fogmaker technology is designed to not only automatically suppress these thermal events, but also provide additional time for occupants to safely evacuate the bus."

Topics:Alabama bus fires special needs Special Needs Transportation Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.