How Can We Provide Safety for BISD Student Bus Riders? Part IV~ Lenz Looks At the Pictures

Daniel Lenz

"One thing to look for in a bus fire investigation report, especially one involving multiple fires is a common denominator,"  stated bus expert Daniel Lenz, after reading the four page written portion of Dynamic Technical Consultants, Inc. submitted to BISD November 4, 2013.  

Finding a common thread is made difficult by the incomplete nature of the DTC report.  

"I have no intention of being critical of the report," starts Lenz, "but it leaves out basic information that could link the fires."  

"For example, the report gives the bus numbers for all three buses, #528, #545 and #447, but the VIN numbers for only two of the buses.  Bus #545 is described as "manufactured in 2007 with a 6.4L diesel turbo charged V8 engine."

"Bus #447 is described as a "2002 International chassis with a Blue Bird bus body, equipped with a 7.3 turbo charged V8 diesel.  Bus #528, involved in the dramatic October 4, 2013 fire, does not list a VIN number, model year or make, simply described as being powered by "a turbo-charged diesel located at the front of the vehicle.  So, we have no idea, from the report, if Bus #528 shared the same manufacturer or engine as either of the other two buses involved in fires.  

DTC describes the cause of the October 4, 2013 bus fire on Bus #528 as "officially undetermined."

The fire on Bus #545, that caught fire April 10, 2013 is blamed on "portions of the wiring harness that had become displaced from the bulkhead and were in close proximity to the exhaust system."  The report also states that "portions of the thermal barrier were not installed in a proper manner to protect the air conditioning hoses and adjacent components."  Then, the report claims that an "exhaust clamp adjacent to the turbo-charger was noted to have been improperly tightened." 

Exhaust clamp adjacent to turbo-charger,
 Bus # 545

"Jim, the black and white pictures are not very good.  Clear photos in color are needed for an inspection.  As far as a breakdown in the thermal barrier around AC components, it would not be fire-inducing.   The AC might not work as well." 

"Actually, Jim, the exhaust clamp in the foreground of the picture on the left appears tight.  Notice the two sort of round objects with a threaded bolt running through them are touching.  They can't get tighter than that.  Now, one of the flanges on either side of the turbo could be defective, but the exhaust clamp looks tight and, notice the nut on the bolt appears to not have been turned."

DTC included 15 full page black and white pictures in their 19 page report. None of the pics are very clear or conclusive.  Some of the pics are of the entire bus after the fire or of a "typical" engine compartment.

"As we've stated before, without a careful examination of maintenance records, interviews with drivers and mechanics, a report like this is very incomplete.  It would be very difficult to come up with comprehensive maintenance or procedural recommendations based on so little information."