Passengers forced to flee from burning bus

WHAT started as smoke soon became a raging fire that destroyed a passenger bus heading from Toowoomba to Brisbane.

WHAT started as smoke soon became a raging fire that destroyed a passenger bus heading from Toowoomba to Brisbane.

About 25 passengers were able to flee a Stonestreet's coach with their luggage before a fire erupted from the engine bay on the Warrego Hwy about 2.15pm yesterday.

A man was taken to Gatton Hospital with a minor burn which Stonestreet's Coaches owner Phil Stonestreet said was sustained when trying to open a door to the engine bay.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said initial reports suggested the man suffered facial burns but Mr Stonestreet said the injury was to the man's hands.

Up to 20 passengers were evacuated from this bus when it burst into flames on the Warrego Hwy just east of Toowoomba.

He said the driver was a little shaken up after bringing the coach to rest at the intersection of Kellys Rd at Helidon.

"I've got to praise the driver for getting it off the road where it was safe."

A replacement bus was organised to take the passengers through to Brisbane.

East-bound traffic suffered heavy delays and queued for kilometres before emergency services reopened one lane.

Originally published as Passengers forced to flee from burning bus