A high school football team in Illinois was lucky to avoid any serious injuries this past week after the team bus caught fire. The Pana High School football team was returning from a game when they noticed something going on with the vehicle they were riding in.
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According to a report by WCIA.com, the fire happened as the team was traveling on Illinois Route 16 through a town called Witt in Illinois. Roughly 45 people were on the bus.
"Early indication suggests an issue with the brakes began ignition of the bus," Witt assistant fire chief Daniel Rogers said. "The occupants of the bus could smell it, pulled over and noticed smoke."
Shortly after everyone successfully made it off the bus, it became engulfed in flames. Three companies of the Witt Volunteer Fire Department used almost 5,000 gallons of water to get the fire under control, as it ended up being a complete loss.
"We said we wanted to start off hot this season," the team coaches posted on social media along with photos of the bus, "but this isn't quite what we meant."
A second bus eventually arrived to bring the coaches, players and original bus driver home that evening. The team earned a 46-27 victory over Hillsboro and now get to avoid travel for the next two weeks as they host Southwestern this Friday night and Vandalia in a Week 3 matchup.
"It is easy in moments of chaos like this to lose composure," the team coaches wrote. "We are proud to say that did not happen on the side of Route 16. Incredible courage was displayed by our bus driver, coaches and players in a time where panic could've caused the unthinkable."
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