Date: Thu May  8 13:17:31 2008
Subject: Calgary Transit Bus Fire
From: Fire PIO

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             CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
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    The Calgary Fire Department responded to Deerfoot Trail
southbound between 32 Avenue and McKnight Blvd. just before
10:30 for reports of a bus fire. Fire crews arrived and found
the rear of a Calgary Transit bus engulfed in smoke and
flames. The driver of the bus, a mechanic, was performing a
test drive when the fire broke out. The mechanic attempted to
douse the flames with a dry chem extinguisher but was
unsuccessful. The driver was the only one on the bus at the
time of the fire. 

   Firefighters used a hose from the pump truck and knocked
down the fire. The fire had started in the rear panel where
the exhaust pipe runs. The exhaust pipe overheated causing
the fiberglass panel to ignite. Fire investigators peg the
damage at approximately $10 000. The two right hand lanes of
Deerfoot Trail were shut down temporarily. The bus has since
been towed away. No injuries were reported. 

 -30-


Public Contact Information:

Jeff Budai
Public Information Officer
287-4257

Public Email Contact: 

    3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca

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