School Bus Fire Slows Traffic on I-270

A school bus fire closed all southbound express lanes at the Montrose Road exit Monday morning.

The school bus was being driven in for repair work, said Capt. Oscar Garcia, a fire and rescue spokesman. The driver was the only person on the bus.

No injuries were reported.

Garcia was unable to confirm if the school bus belonged to Montgomery County Public Schools. 

The fire was extinguished shortly before 11 a.m. Garcia said that the fire may have started in the engine.

By 11 a.m. only one lane was getting by the scene on I-270’s main lanes, Garcia said. All local lanes were open.

At 11:30 a.m., NBC4 showed live shots of traffic jammed on southbound I-270.

NBC4 also posted video shot from its helicopter of the bus fire being extinguished.

About 12 firefighters, including a unit from the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department’s Engine 23, contained the fire, Garcia said.

Photo of burning bus courtesy of @amro via Twitpics,taken from a vantage point in building overlooking I-270.