Local News

School bus engulfed in flames on I-93 in Boston, closes stretch of interstate

The Boston Public Schools bus was carrying children at the time of the fire, and four students were taken to the hospital due to smoke inhalation.

By Molly Farrar

June 17, 2024

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A school bus was completely engulfed in flames on I-93 near Dorchester Monday afternoon, leading to major delays for afternoon commuters.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said just after 3 p.m. that all northbound lanes on I-93 at exit 14 were closed. Officials set up a detour off of exit 13 to Morrissey Boulevard to avoid the fire.

Around 4:15 p.m., MassDOT reopened two left lanes near the fire.

The Boston Public Schools students were evacuated from the bus around 2:48 p.m. after the engine began to smoke, according to Massachusetts State Police. The bus then caught fire and was “quickly extinguished” by the Boston Fire Department, officials said. 

The Josiah Quincy Upper School students were on a field trip when the bus began to smoke, according to a letter sent home to families.

The heads of school wrote in the letter that the bus was from an outside vendor. The students were evacuated before the bus caught fire, but four students were taken to a hospital due to smoke inhalation.

A spokesperson for BPS said the students were hospitalized out of an abundance of caution.

A video of the yellow school bus shows strong flames and billowing black smoke rising rapidly. 

In other images from witnesses, the roof and the front of the extinguished bus are almost completely destroyed.

The bus was towed, and the scene completely cleared by 4:15 p.m., officials said.