Case Study

Fire in a CNG Transit Bus

 

Fire on MARTA bus; it appears that water has not yet been applied. [1]

 

A fire originated in the rear-tire region of a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority  (MARTA) CNG bus during normal operation. The fire spread throughout the bus, including to the roof-top CNG tanks. The PRDs vented prior to overpressurization of the tanks, releasing gas which burned in the air above the bus. There were no injuries.

A stream of gas burns above the bus, likely due to PRD release. [1]

 

Fire continued to propagate and consume side body panels. [1]

Smoke tended to rise to the street-side, with little fore-aft bias. The relatively lower intensity of burn damage to the rear of the bus could not be attributed to wind direction and was consistent with fire that initiated forward of the engine compartment.

 

Engine compartment after the fire was extinguished. [1]

 

The heavily damaged side of the bus is visible through the steam. [1]

References

  1. Photographs are courtesy of Peter Jensen, Atlanta, Georgia.
  2. Case description courtesy of Hank Seiff, Clean Vehicle Education Foundation.