Whitefish speech and debate students safe after bus fire in Ronan

The bus that was used to take Whitefish Speech & Debate students to a tournament in Ronan caught fire in the Ronan Middle School parking lot Saturday evening.  

Ronan Fire Chief Chris Adler said they were dispatched to Ronan Middle School at 5:30 p.m. after a passerby noticed the coach bus was on fire. 

All of the students were safe and inside the school, still participating in the tournament as awards were being handed out.  

The bus driver was the only person with injuries. As of Sunday morning, the bus driver has been released from the hospital after treatment for smoke inhalation. 

Whitefish students had belongings on the bus which were lost in the fire.

Adler said about 15 volunteer firefighters responded to the scene. When they arrived, the engine in the back of the bus was already engulfed.  

“These things happen. A bus is a machine... and that’s how machines are. It was not due to the fault of anyone,” said Adler, who is a full-time mechanic. 

It took firefighters about two hours to put out the fire and clear the scene. The bus has already been hauled away.  

Whitefish High School students were safely bussed home with transportation provided by the Ronan School District.