CORTLANDT MANOR – A bus carrying 35 soldiers to Camp Smith caught fire Monday and despite the efforts of firefighters from Garrison and Continental Village, the coach was destroyed.

All of the service members got off the bus safely.

Nine-one-one calls sent emergency responders to Route 9D near the Route 403 intersection around 10:30 a.m.

Garrison Fire Chief Fred Reich said as the bus was headed southbound, occupants first smelled smoke before observing smoke filtering into the vehicle.

The driver pulled off to the side of the road and evacuated the three dozen occupants before the entire vehicle went up in flames. No injuries were reported.

Chief Reich said when his department arrived, minutes later, flames had engulfed the coach. The chief sounded a general alarm for his department w

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