Propane-powered bus explodes in Fayetteville
A propane-powered bus in Fayetteville caught fire and exploded on Monday, prompting an investigation by the Fayetteville Area System of Transit and the company that installed the propane system.
Bus driver Sandra Harley told her supervisor over the radio that she smelled propane and felt heat, and she then got everybody off the bus safely, including a woman who was pregnant, officials said.
An employee of Beasley Media Group captured video of the burning bus outside the company's offices on Person Street.
Harley, who has been driving for FAST for about a year, was shaken up and declined to comment Tuesday.
The bus is among 23 hybrid FAST buses that use both propane and gasoline. It was originally purchased as a traditional gas-electric hybrid but was converted to the propane system about three years ago, FAST Director Randy Hume said.
Monday's fire was the first problem the transit agency has had with the gas-propane hybrids, Hume said.
"It will transfer automatically, and, in fact, most of the problems that we’ve had with these vehicles is they might transfer prematurely to gasoline. which causes the driver some concern," he said.
Investigators haven't determined the cause of the fire, but Albert Venezio, chairman of Icom North America, which installed the hybrid system, said the propane wasn't at fault.
"From the information we have at this time, it seems clear it is an electrical fire originating from the battery, which has nothing to do with the propane system as the fuel source," Venezio said in an email to WRAL News. "The propane system performed exactly as it was supposed to do from a safety aspect. A electrical fire originating from the battery operating on gasoline would have had similar results."
Icom was sending an inspection team from its headquarters in New Hudson, Mich., to inspect the burned-out bus on Wednesday.
"We are thankful that no one was hurt and give our best appreciation and respect to Ms. Harley for taking care of her passengers and being sure everyone was safely evacuated from the bus," Venezio said.
