Elephant Revival's Tour Bus Caught Fire in North Carolina

This morning around 9 a.m., the tour bus of Nederland-based band Elephant Revival caught fire in Hickory, North Carolina. According to 9News.com, firefighters responded to a call and found smoke coming from the bus, with an initial report that people were still on board. All five passengers got off the bus safely. Damage was confined to the van and the band's belongings.

A post from the band on its Facebook page described the close call: "An electrical fire ignited in the back of the bunk room. Luckily, we were already parked at the venue in North Carolina. It all happened very quickly, while some of us were sleeping and some of us were waking. A chorus of voices yelled smoke, as the initial flames encroached upon Daniel's feet in the back lower bunk. Within two minutes, black smoke billowed through the windows as the interior of the bus went up in flames."

The folk band thanked the Red Cross, fire department and the town of Hickory, where it is scheduled to play the Crossing at Hollar Mill tonight. A follow-up Facebook post says, "We have decided the show must go on and we will still be playing tonight! Music in the Mill is donating a portion of tonight's proceeds from ticket sales back to the band and they will have donation buckets set up at the venue for those who would like to help."

All merchandise purchased through Elephant Revival's web store or at the show directly supports the band, and many fans seem to be rallying to contribute by stocking up on new band T-shirts. 

Elephant Revival brought its eclectic sound home last month with its first headlining show at Red Rocks. That show honored a serious recent loss — the deaths of Joe Ramas and Stacey Reynolds, members of the dancer and aerialist group Fractal Tribe, a presence in Boulder's art community. 

For more information, please check Elephant Revival's website and Facebook page.