Bus carrying UMass Lowell students catches fire

Local News

The students and band equipment were evacuated safely.

A bus carrying the UMass Lowell marching band caught fire on Sunday.

The Westwood Fire Department received several reports of a bus on fire on High Street (Route 109) near Grove Street around 1:30 p.m.

Upon arrival at the scene, the fire was spreading from the outside of the bus to the inside handlines, the fire department said.

The bus had been evacuated after a student reported an odor, smoke, and flames, UMass Lowell said in a statement.

The approximately 50 college students on the bus were evacuated safely; one student was assessed for smoke inhalation at the scene, the fire department said.

Firefighters were also able to save most of the instruments and band equipment stored under the bus, they said.

The fire was under control in approximately 30 minutes, the fire department said.

The bus was headed to the band’s performance in Norwood, where the students were able to perform following the incident, UMass Lowell said.