SBS buses worth $3 million wrecked in depot
fire
SIX double-decker buses, worth about $3 million, went up in
flames at the Ang Mo Kio bus depot yesterday morning.
Bus drivers arriving for work at the depot in
Ang Mo Kio Street 63 were confronted by the acrid smell of smoke,
and the burnt-out shells of the smouldering half-dozen buses
"There were so many policemen and firemen
around. I was shocked to hear that six buses had been burned...this
is the first time I have seen anything like this, " said one
44-year-old bus driver, who arrived around 5:30am.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is
currently investigating the cause of the fire, though it is not
known at this point if someone deliberately set fire to the
vehicles, estimated to be worth about $500, 000 each.
The SCDF added that the fire was contained
within the six buses, as the rest of the fleet was parked farther
away. A security guard on duty raised the alarm. No one was
hurt.
To ensure that morning services were not
disrupted, buses were redeployed from other depots. The six buses
all plied on the No. 25 route from Ang Mo Kio interchange to Bedok
interchange.
A spokesman for SBS Transit told The Straits
Times that the loss of the buses would have some impact on
day-to-day operations, but that it would try to minimise
inconvenience to commuters by redeploying buses where possible.
A number of bus drivers who spoke to The
Straits Times said it was unlikely the buses were torched by
pyromaniacs or vandals, as the bus depot is manned by security
guards and security cameras at all times. The permises are also
surrounded by a brick wall approximately 2m in height, making it
difficult to climb other.
Previously reported cases of fire destroying
vehicles usually involved only motorcycles and cars parked in
public carparks.
The drivers added that it could have been a
fault in the electrical wiring of the vehicles that sparked the
fire, or even a fuel leak.
The depot houses between 400 and 500 buses,
and doubles as a refuelling station for taxis.
The bus drivers usually leave the premises by
2am.
SBS Transit said it was assisting in the
investigations.
*All from The
Straits Time (on 8 March 2010, Monday) front
pages.*
