Fisher College baseball team, coaches escape bus fire in Maryland
BALTIMORE, Md. — Members of the Fisher College baseball team escaped unhurt after their bus caught fire while travelling home to Boston from Maryland on Sunday.
The team was driving back from playing a weekend series in North Carolina when a back tire blew out, causing the bus to burst into flames while on the road in Baltimore County. Maryland.
"We first heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot," coach Scott Dulin said. "The bus immediately pulled over and our driver went to check the tires. He came back, grabbed a fire extinguisher and ordered us all off the bus."
"Less than 60 seconds, we were just throwing everything off the bus to the side of the road. I think everyone goes into survival mode. Get everything off the bus and run as far as you can in case it explodes," said Fisher College junior and outfielder Jose Neris.
Firefighters from the White Marsh Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene within minutes and safely extinguished the blaze.
All 35 players and coaches escaped the bus safely, though the bus was a total loss.
"When you see the flames you think, thank God everyone got off," Dulin said.
The team and coaches were taken to the firehouse by firefighters where they had hot dogs and ice cream. They played a game of pick-up basketball, some video games, and watched movies while they waited for another bus.
"I would like to personally thank all of the firefighters for their quick actions and for going above the call of duty to help our students and coaches with meals and a safe place to stay while we worked to get them back home to Boston," Fisher College president Steve Rich said. "Their generosity of spirit speaks to the best that our country has to offer."
The team arrived back in Boston early Monday morning.
