37 Escape Unharmed in Santa Cruz Mountain Bus Fire

Santa Cruz Mountains Bus Fire: 37 Escape Unharmed On Friday morning, a charter bus carrying 32 students and 5 adults caught fire on Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. All passengers escaped the burning vehicle without injury, a remarkable outcome given the intensity of the blaze. The fire, reported around 9:00 am, quickly engulfed the bus, leading to the closure of a section of the highway and causing significant traffic delays for hours. "We first saw smoke coming from the bus around 9 o'clock this morning," reported an ABC7 News crew on the scene. The fire occurred near the exit to Ida Wild Drive. Firefighters responded swiftly and contained the blaze, preventing further damage and ensuring the safety of those involved. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. While the incident caused significant disruption, the fact that all 37 passengers escaped unharmed is a testament to their quick thinking and the effective response of emergency services.