New Jersey School Bus Catches Fire, No One Hurt
The fire appears to have been caused by a mechanical issue in the bus. No one is on board at the time.
The fire appeared to have been caused by a mechanical issue in the Middletown ( N.J.) Public Schools bus. No one was on board when it caught fire. Photo courtesy Middletown Township Fire Department
MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — A fire broke out on a school bus outside of a high school here on Thursday morning.
Officials from Middletown Township Fire Department reportedly responded to the fire at Middletown High School at around 7:15 a.m., according to a tweet from the Township of Middletown.
William O. George III, the superintendent for Middletown Public Schools, said in a statement that the school bus caught fire after it had arrived at the high school, and students were evacuated from the bus before the smoke progressed to a fire. George added in the statement that students inside the school were evacuated to the rear of the building for a short period of time while the fire was extinguished. No one was hurt.
Dennis Fowler, a spokesman for Middletown Township Fire Department, told Ashbury Park Press that firefighters had the fire under control by 7:40 a.m. and had cleared the scene by 9:40 a.m. George said in the statement that the school building's air quality was tested by a registered environmental health specialist and deemed safe for occupancy after the fire, and that the fire appears to have been caused by a mechanical issue in the bus.
More Safety
Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?
NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.
Read More →
NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA
Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.
Read More →
How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs
Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →