Jan. 07--A large fire in a southwest Fresno bus yard early Sunday caused $1 million in damage to school buses that are contracted to carry Fresno Unified School District special education students, the Fresno Fire Department said.
Sixteen buses were heavily damaged in the fire and six others had minor damage, fire spokesman Keola Park said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but early signs indicate that arson may not have been the cause, Park said.
Firefighters responded to a call at 3:28 a.m. about a vehicle on fire at the First Student bus contracting business at 2805 S. East St.
When the first unit arrived, firefighters found five or six buses engulfed in flames and requested help from other units, Park said.
A total of five engines, two ladder trucks, 29 firefighters, two battalion chiefs and an investigator got the fire under control in about 40 minutes.
"This fire was unique because of the way the buses were parked, side by side in tight quarters, making it difficult to get in between," Park said.
Firefighters had to climb a ladder truck and get above the fire to put it out, Park said.
The loss of buses won't affect Fresno Unified this week. Students are on winter break until Jan. 14.
"First Student management has been in contact with us and have assured us that service to our special needs students will not be interrupted," Fresno Unified spokeswoman Susan Bedi said.
First Student company officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The reporter can be reached at (559) 441-6495, [email protected] or @bonhialee on Twitter.
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