So are you saying that all the people who reported the brakes being on fire are being paid off to protect a smoker?
No.
I've seen/warned truckers about brake fires, and agree it might have been a brake fire.
If so, then how could the driver be outside changing the tire - if the tire/brake assy were on fire.
More likely, there WAS a brake fire that blew out the tires/casued the flat. The bus stopped, and WHILE the outside tire (after the fire was out, but the axle/hub was damaged) was being changed, somebody INSIDE lit up.
Fire outside wouldn't otherwise have taken that long to get inside: it would have started/ignited/burned VERY brightly as soon as the bus stopped.