Northland school bus fire: Mechanical fault caused Mangawhai blaze

A fire that tore through a school bus in Northland was caused by a mechanical fault or malfunction, Fire and Emergency New Zealand says.

The driver and 19 students escaped as the bus filled with smoke just before 4pm on Monday near Mangawhai.

Students evacuated through the driver’s side exit when the main doors failed to open.

A Ritchies Transport Northland spokesperson said the fire was now the subject of a “thorough internal investigation”.

Locals on Facebook said they were told via a text that the cause of the fire was a “mechanical issue”.

On Tuesday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the cause of the blaze was undetermined.

But in an update today, a spokesperson confirmed it was a “mechanical fault or malfunction”.

The first Fire and Emergency crew from Mangawhai arrived at the blaze, near the intersection with Mangawhai and Carter Rds, just after 4pm on Monday.

A road was partially closed as crews battled the blaze, which was out by 5.10pm.

The father of a 13-year-old girl on board said the news came as a shock, especially as it was only the second week his daughter has taken the bus.

His daughter told him the doors wouldn’t open, and they had to climb out the driver’s side.

“Bit concerning that the doors wouldn’t open ... there should be an emergency over-ride,” the father said.

A school bus has caught fire in Mangawhai. Photo / Google Maps

“They pulled over, and the bus was filling with smoke. From what I’ve heard, [the driver] did a good job getting them all out.”

One local called the blaze a “frightening sight”.

A Ritchies Transport Northland spokesperson said they were glad it ended safely.

“As is always the case in situations like this, the incident is now the subject of a thorough internal investigation, bringing in independent expertise as required.”

Ritchies said given the investigation, it had no further comment to make.

People online have hailed the bus driver as a hero.

One woman posted on a Mangawhai Facebook community page that she was organising an appreciation gift for the driver, telling parents of the students who escaped to message her if they wanted to contribute.

Some commented saying although their child wasn’t on the bus that day, they would still contribute.

Another person said the driver sounded like he did an “amazing job”.

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