A Transperth bus driver has escaped injury after the bus he was driving caught fire and burnt out yesterday afternoon
A Transperth bus driver has escaped injury after the bus he was driving caught fire and burnt out yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, December 15).
Police believed an electrical fault in the engine of the Mercedes Benz OC500 LE bus caused the fire, which destroyed the public transport bus.
The bus, a Route 19 from Yokine to Perth, was stationary in Raymond Street at the time the fire started, around 2.30pm.
The fire is believed to have started in the engine bay and quickly spread. The driver attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful.
Police and the fire brigade attended, and the fire was out by 3 pm. No passengers were on board and no-one was injured.
Several loud bangs were heard while the bus was burning, which are thought to have been the tyres exploding.
A Transperth spokesman says it is virtually impossible for the gas cylinder to explode as it is fitted with thermal-release and pressure-release valves. The bus was commissioned in 2003.
Transperth will conduct a full investigation.
Dramatic images of the incident are available at WA Today.