UMass Lowell Marching Band Bus Catches Fire, Students Evacuate Safely in Westwood

A bus carrying about 40-50 members of the UMass Lowell Marching Band caught fire on High Street near Grove Street in Westwood, Massachusetts, as they traveled to a performance in Norwood. The fire broke out after a senior band member smelled smoke and saw flames, prompting an emergency evacuation with all students safely exiting the bus; one student was evaluated for smoke inhalation but was not hospitalized. Firefighters arrived quickly, bringing the blaze under control in about 30 minutes and salvaging nearly all of the band's equipment, valued at around $100,000, which was stored in compartments under the bus. A second shuttle bus transported the students to the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Associations competition, where the band performed to an enthusiastic crowd. The Westwood Fire and Police Departments, along with mutual aid from neighboring towns, received praise for their response, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The band director called the successful performance following the incident his proudest moment in 47 years of career.