Engine fire sparks on school bus in Dale

An engine fire began on a school bus shortly after the driver pulled off along a northern Beaufort County road Wednesday and evacuated the Whale Branch Middle School students aboard, according to the Beaufort County School District.

The driver had smelled smoke while traveling on Half Moon Island Road in Dale about 5:25 p.m., and decided to evacuate the two students she was transporting from the middle school’s after-school program, district spokesman Jim Foster said.

At some point after they left the bus, a fire started in the engine, causing unknown damages.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Engine fire sparks on school bus in Dale."