escaped serious injury on Tuesday night when their team bus caught fire in Columbus, Ohio, en route to a game against the Dayton Dynamos.

The fire was reported to have started around 8.45 p.m. as the bus carrying the National Professional Soccer League team -- 16 players, the coach, a trainer, and the team's director of broadcasting John Wilsbach -- approached the downtown area on westbound Interstate 70.

A motorist notified the bus driver on his citizens band radio that the rear of the bus was on fire, according to Wilsbach. The driver immediately pulled the bus off the road and the passengers were evacuated.

Within a minute the vehicle was engulfed. Fire crews arrived about five minutes after the bus had stopped.

The bus was a complete loss, said a city fire dispatcher who would not give his name. He said the driver estimated the value of the vehicle at $250,000.

The cause had not been determined, added the dispatcher.

All the team's equipment, uniforms and broadcast equipment were lost, Wilsbach said. Most passengers were unable to remove their personal belongings before the bus was ablaze.

Bascome was unavailable for comment, but according to his girlfriend he and the rest of the side were walking away along the highway when a loud explosion occurred, which left little hope for any recovery of items left on board.

Despite the near tragedy Harrisburg, after having their uniforms shipped overnight to Dayton, proceeded with the match and promptly defeated Dayton 19-15 for their first victory of the new season.

The win moved the Heat from the bottom of the standings in the six-team American Division.

Yesterday, after returning to Pennsylvania, players were said to be busy sorting out insurance matters.

Bascome recently signed a one-year contract with the Heat after spending most of last season on loan to Denver.