Corral Fire near Tracy: Stanislaus Co. bus caught in wildfire

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. — A Stanislaus County transit bus was caught in flames from the Corral Fire Saturday evening.

After the Corral Fire ignited near Tracy, San Joaquin County, it produced enough smoke and fire to force cars on the highway to turn around and head toward the 'west.

Among the vehicles hit was a Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority bus. The driver was given permission to turn around, but the wheels got stuck in the highway's central reservation, causing him to stall as the wildfire grew.

Shortly afterward, authorities said the fire reached the back of the bus, but the driver saw it coming, evacuated everyone on board and helped everyone to safety.

The fire on the bus was quickly extinguished thanks to the efforts of the California Highway Patrol.

“We are extremely grateful to our driver for her composure and professionalism during this incident as well as to our passengers who all worked together in an extremely stressful time,” said Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority CEO Adam Barth. “Additionally, we thank the CHP for their quick action to ensure the safety of our passengers and driver.

The transit bus is currently at a tow yard in Tracy until it can be released by StanRTA. After that, the maintenance team will assess the damage and make the necessary repairs. StanRTA is also reviewing its security protocols to ensure they are prepared for any future incidents.

No one was injured during the incident.

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