[Update] School Bus Smoking on Highway 299 Near Snow Camp Road Prompts Fire Response, Snarls Traffic

Screenshot of Caltrans QuickMap

A school bus was reported smoking Thursday afternoon on Highway 299 near Snow Camp Road, east of Blue Lake, according to California Highway Patrol dispatch logs and scanner traffic.

The initial call came in at 3:16 p.m. A caller to the emergency communications center reported a fire in the engine bay of the bus, also describing the smoke as clear to whitish in color — a detail that more likely points to steam than an active fire, possibly indicating an overheated engine rather than a true vehicle fire.

CHP units were assigned and en route minutes later, with Blue Lake Fire also reported as responding to the scene near mile marker 20 on Highway 299.

According to the Caltrans Quickmap, traffic is severely impacted in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 299 at the location. Motorists are advised to avoid the area or use caution in the area if travel is unavoidable.

It was not immediately clear whether any students or passengers were aboard the bus at the time of the incident.

Further details were not immediately available.

Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.

Update 3:58 p.m.: According to the CHP log, the yellow school bus is disabled in the number one lane of Highway 299. A heavy-duty tow has been requested to remove the vehicle from the roadway. Traffic impacts along the corridor are expected to continue until the bus is cleared from the lane.

Update: Caltrans’ QuickMap shows traffic flowing smoothly through the area indicating the disabled bus has been removed from the roadway.