TWO fire crews from Tavistock were called to tackle a blaze on a school minibus at Week Cross near Heathfield, Tavistock, on Tuesday morning.
Fire crews used two sets of breathing apparatus and hosereels to tackle the blaze on the 16-seater bus, which broke out during the morning school run.
Chris Neale, Tavistock fire chief, said: 'Fortunately, no children were on the bus at the time.
'The driver had gone to pick up the first children of the morning. He was a little concerned because he'd already smelled smoke in the cab. He had a look and the heater assembly was already burning quite fiercely.
'He tried to put it out but the extinguisher wasn't man enough for the job and he quite rightly called us straight away.
'Unfortunately, by the time we got there, the coach was well alight.'
Mr Neale said the minibus was almost destroyed by the blaze.
Crews from Tavistock using breathing apparatus were also called to tackle a car fire near Chillaton on Sunday afternoon.
A van was completely destroyed by the fire.