JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A possible arson investigation is underway after three buses went up in flames early Friday morning on the city’s Northside.
The fire at the Student Transportation of America bus depot on New Berlin Road came days after a fire broke out at another STA school bus depot in Regency, leaving several buses charred and two people injured.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said three school buses were burned at the New Berlin lot Friday and two others were damaged. The fire is considered suspicious and the state fire marshal was called to investigate.
Duval County Public Schools confirmed with News4JAX that the fire did not contribute to any bus delays Friday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol noted that the fire marshal arrived just before 3:30 a.m. at the lot off New Berlin Road East, just north of Heckscher Drive.
The STA released a statement on Friday:
We are thankful for the quick actions of first responders to extinguish the fire and will continue to work with authorities throughout their investigation.
Jen Holzapfel, Student Transportation of America
JFRD said the New Berlin fire is not believed to have any connection with the Regency fire on Tuesday when two people were injured and half a dozen school buses and several cars were charred.
Fire crews had a difficult time putting out the fire at an STA depot off Lee Road because there were no hydrants close by and they had to relay hose lines as far as 1,000 feet.
High winds also hampered firefighting efforts, and the building was filled with hazardous materials, including fuels and oils, presenting a risk of explosions.
No firefighters were hurt, but two civilians who tried to put the fire out before firefighters arrived were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Several burned buses could be seen in the bays when Sky4 flew over the Regency depot, and the roof appeared to have buckled from the heat of the fire.
The building’s structural integrity is being checked, and the state fire marshal was also called to investigate the cause of that fire.
A Jacksonville school bus also caught fire Thursday near Naval Air Station Jacksonville, sending massive flames and a black cloud of smoke into the air.
No children were on board and the driver escaped without injury, JFRD said.
That fire was caused by the driver driving on a flat tire, which eventually ignited something, JFRD said.