Golf veterans escape burning bus on Queensland highway

A group of golfing veterans on their way to a competition in south-east Queensland have narrowly escaped with their lives after their bus burst into flames on the Bruce Highway.

Within 15 minutes of leaving their Pelican Waters club, north of Brisbane, on the way to compete against golfers in Gympie, several passengers noticed smoke billowing from the bus.

Within a minute, after a speedy evacuation, the bus burst into flames.

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"We just yelled out we need to stop," golfer David Werner said.

"Essentially the bus burnt down."

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Fellow golfer and driver John Higgins said he pulled over in time for the 28 veterans to escape the smoky vehicle.

"It took about a minute from noticing the smoke to getting everybody off," Mr Higgins said.

"People might take a crack at vets on the golf course for moving slow, but they did well."

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Mr Werner said he grabbed a fire extinguisher in efforts to subdue the blaze.

"It had no effect, put a bit out but just made sure everybody was out of danger," he said.

The fire caused delays on the Bruce Highway, shutting down one lane of traffic.

Firefighters worked to put out the blaze, with one passenger transported to hospital to check for potential injuries.

The remaining veterans were taken home on a replacement bus.

The golfers left all their belongings n the bus, with 20 sets of golf clubs destroyed on the burning bus.

"I'll have to tell my wife first," Mr Werner said.

"Apologies to the Gympie vets, we didn't get up there today but we will eventually."