By Robert Jordan
Dunn Daily Record
HARNETT COUNTY – A Harnett County school bus transporting students to Benhaven Elementary School caught fire and was destroyed Tuesday morning, but students were never in danger due to a quick thinking bus driver.
At 7:33 a.m., Harnett County Communications Center received a 911 call from the school reporting the smell of something burning on bus number 206. District 13, Benhaven Fire Department and Rescue Squad was immediately dispatched to 520 Olive Farm Drive in the Sanford part of Harnett County.
The bus driver correctly followed the safety protocol by removing the passengers from the bus and getting them to a safe area, according to Natalie Ferrell, public information officer for Harnett County Schools. A backup bus was sent to the scene to pick up the students.
There were no injuries to anyone aboard the bus at the time of the incident, Ferrell said. All students were safely transported away from the scene to the school.
Reports indicate that upon the arrival of a fire officer, the bus was fully involved in flames. Firefighters, paramedics, rescue technicians, emergency management, the fire marshal and law enforcement personnel were all dispatched to the scene.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is still being conducted.
