Up in flames. What are your kids up to ?

[schoolbusdriver]

Today in the Oldham Chronicle:

A 15-YEAR-OLD schoolboy was today being questioned by police after an arson attack destroyed a £125,000 bus and damaged Oldham’s new bus station.
Terrified passengers and onlookers escaped injury when fire tore through the number 52 single decker bus shortly after 3pm yesterday, filling the station with plumes of black smoke.
First Manchester bosses praised the quick-thinking driver, who bravely tackled the blaze with a fire extinguisher before being beaten back by the flames.
One eye witness said: “Everyone in the station just stood there for about eight minutes watching the bus burn, not knowing what to do. It was only when the bus became engulfed and black smoke started filling the station that everybody panicked and tried to get out.
“A police officer arrived and started screaming at everyone to get out and it was pandemonium, with about 50 people all rushing for the doors, with heavy bags and prams.”
She added: “It terrifies me to think of what might have happened. It’s a miracle that the bus didn’t blow up and, if it had, all the glass in the station might have shattered.”
Hollinwood councillor Stephen Williams, who is the council spokesperson for the fire brigade, also witnessed the chaos. He said: “The police and fire authorities arrived at the scene very quickly, but the bus went up so incredibly fast that it felt like an eternity for the people watching.
“These mindless arsonists have absolutely no idea what damage they do. They put the passengers and shoppers at risk, and the lives of those firefighters whose efforts have to be commended.”
The West Street stand of the £2 million bus station, which opened in September, has been closed and services are running from temporary stops at the Cheapside side of the station.
Michael Renshaw, interim service director for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, said: “There is a lot of superficial smoke damage in the station, but fortunately no major structural damage. We are hoping to reopen the West Street site at the the beginning of next week and have put extra staff on in the meantime to help passengers.”
Two other youths who were arrested at the same time were released without charge.

[Cander]

My kids are in the backyard running with flaming scissors in a pool of rubbing alcohol.

[penagate]

She added: “It terrifies me to think of what might have happened. It’s a miracle that the bus didn’t blow up and, if it had, all the glass in the station might have shattered.”

Stupid witnesses. Vehicles don't blow up, that's a Hollywood myth.

[dclamp]

if i had kids.... they would be playing in the garage with the saws and drinking the bleach from the laundry room. and one is in the middle of the highway.

i dont have any kids yet, i am too young..

@penagate: yep, that is true.

[visualAd]

Stupid witnesses. Vehicles don't blow up, that's a Hollywood myth.

That was actually a police officer.

[visualAd]

Stupid witnesses. Vehicles don't blow up, that's a Hollywood myth.

If it has a full tank of petrol it does go bang. But never as spectacular as in the movies.

[schoolbusdriver]

Luckily these buses run on diesel which won't burn on its own, its vapour point is too high - you could throw a lit match in it and all that'll happen is the match will go out. Get it hot enough though and it'll burn like a chip-pan fire.

What gets me is that the furnishings of these buses are fire resistant - things like formica, rubber, fire resistant foam etc - so, like diesel, won't catch fire easily. The only way it could have got so badly out of hand that it couldn't be put out with the buses fire extinguisher would be if this kid had poured an accelerant like meths or petrol or something onto some newspapers.

Looks like he's starting his chosen career early. And the school holidays aren't in full swing yet.

EDIT: I'll take a guess - he put a plastic bottle half full of petrol on some newspapers and set fire to it. Once the plastic bottle melted......

[penagate]

That was actually a police officer.

No it was a witness quote.