STM bus catches fire on eastbound Highway 720

A public transitbus filled with commuterscaught fire on the eastbound Ville-Marie Expressway, a main highway that leads into Montreal'scity centre,shortly before3p.m. today.

One woman who was on the bus said passengershad to climb out a window because the driver had pulled over on the right side of the highway, which was up against the railing.

"I was reading my book,"VivianneFan told CBC News."We started smelling smoke and then people from the back of the bus started getting up because the seats were heating up.And so we told the bus driver and she moved the bus to the side of the highway."

Fan said passengers appeared calm and didn't realize the extent of the problem until they got off.

"When we got out,we saw from the back of the bus that it actually started to burn down," she said.

Quebec provincial police confirmedthat all passengers got out safely from the 485 bus,which was headed towardLionel-Groulx Metro station when it caught fire.

Fan said she heard what sounded like a small explosion, which may have set off the fire.

Firefighters were seen dousingthe scorched remains of the bus on a ramp leading off the highway.

It took 15 firefighters, four trucks and three pumps to put out the fire. Only the skeleton of the bus remained.

TransportQuebec left only one lane open from the 20 East to access the 720 East while authorities dealt with the situation.

The roads were congested for hours. All lanes of the 720 eastboundwere reopenedjust before 6 p.m.

The STM is now handling the investigation. Officials told CBC News that all of its vehicles undergo regular maintenance.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.