Blown out tire likely caused bus fire

A blown rear tire sparked a fire that engulfed a bus Thursday in Las Cruces, investigators said.

The bus was headed to Santa Fe when the driver and passenger notice the fire in the rear driver’s side about 9 p.m. at the University Avenue exit. The driver and his passenger got out safely.

Police said the driver had just purchased three buses at an auction in El Paso. The bus appears to have formerly been used as a corrections department transport vehicle but is now privately-owned.

Investigators believe the fire started after the inner-rear wheel on the driver’s side blew out, causing extensive heat and the fire.

Witnesses described hearing a small explosion which was most likely the outer-rear wheel bursting after the bus was stopped and before the fire was extinguished.

The Las Cruces Fire Department extinguished the fire within minutes and no injuries were reported.