Tulsa Oilers Bus Catches Fire On Will Rogers Turnpike; Sparks Grass Fire

courtesy of www.newson6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – A team bus belonging to the Tulsa Oilers caught fire on its way to an away game on Friday, the Tulsa Oilers said.

It happened on the Will Rogers Turnpike just east of the Claremore exit as the Oilers traveled to play in Independence, Missouri.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the bus was "fully engulfed" and said the bus fire sparked a large grass fire in the area.  OHP said Claremore Fire Department as well as Verdigris Fire Department responded to the fire.

OHP has closed the outside lane of I-44 just east of the Claremore exit. There is no word on how long the lane will be closed.  Drivers are encouraged to find an alternate route.

Steve McCall, Media Relations Director for the Oilers, told the News ON 6 the bus driver had the emergency brake on when players started to smell smoke.  McCall said when the driver pulled the bus over and the team got out, they heard popping sounds and saw flames coming from under the bus.

McCall said the bus was pulling a trailer full of the team's equipment. He said they were able to disconnect the trailer from the bus so the equipment was not damaged.  However, personal items on the bus were destroyed.

McCall said no team members were injured in the fire.  The team used fire extinguishers to douse the flames while they waited for firefighters to arrive.

The Tulsa Oilers are scheduled to play the Missouri Mavericks Friday night at 7:05 p.m.