[Archived]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57591840/toby-keiths-tour-bus-catches-fire-singer-not-on-board/

[glen]

On our local TV, they reported that the driver saw the smoke (apparently in his mirrors) and then pulled over. That bus would have had a fire detection system and possibly a suppression system.

If any of you hear of details about the fire and whether the systems worked, would you post it here?

Thanks

Jim

[Paul]

I can tell you that even though I had an impressive fire going at one time nothing was visible in the mirrors or the rear camera.

Did that fire in fact originate in the engine area? We had substantial engine area damage yet nothing, absolutely nothing was affected inside the coach so there was no smell or visible indications of smoke.

[David]

Jon, was this on your current coach? Ever determine what caused the fire?

[Archived]

It was on my 87 coach and was caused by a Carrier OTR AC compressor replacement in which the unloader valves were left off intentionally by the technicians. That we believe created problems with clutch and fan belt slippage, both of which got hot enough to provide the ignition point for freon and compressor oil blowing from a failed seal at the compressor.

When I opened the side door next to the compressor the blow torch effect was very impressive. 24 pounds of freon and a bunch of compressor oil make for a very hot flame. Especially when blowing out from a failed seal under pressure. Once the escaping gas and oil ignited, the clutch became cherry red guaranteeing the ignition point and ten batteries worth of plastic plus all the insulation on all the cables provided ample additional fuel to keep the fire going.