Latest news with #AndrewBusch
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Toronto Sun
No injuries when fire erupts at Philadelphia transit lot filled with decommissioned buses
Published Jun 05, 2025 • 1 minute read Officials inspect the burnt wreckage of a bus at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority facility in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 5, 2025. Photo by Matt Rourke / AP PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A fast-moving fire erupted early Thursday at a transit bus lot in Philadelphia filled with dozens of decommissioned vehicles, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky but causing no injuries. The fire did not impact the morning commute. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Citing an abundance of caution, the city's Public Health Department warned nearby residents to stay indoors if possible and urged others to avoid the area. Agency inspectors were collecting samples to assess air quality and the potential for any threat. The fire at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority facility apparently started sometime before 6:15 a.m., said Andrew Busch, SEPTA 's director of communications. Several buses were soon engulfed in flames, and the fire burned for nearly two hours before it was declared under control. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. The lot where the fire broke out was filled with decommissioned buses scheduled for disposal, Busch said. He noted that no in-service buses were in the area where the blaze occurred and none were threatened by the fire. NHL Columnists Columnists Columnists Columnists
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
No injuries when fire erupts at Philadelphia transit lot filled with decommissioned buses
A fast-moving fire erupted early Thursday at a transit bus lot in Philadelphia filled with dozens of decommissioned vehicles, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky but causing no injuries. The fire did not impact the morning commute. Citing an abundance of caution, the city's Public Health Department warned nearby residents to stay indoors if possible and urged others to avoid the area. Agency inspectors were collecting samples to assess air quality and the potential for any threat. The fire at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority facility apparently started sometime before 6:15 a.m., said Andrew Busch, SEPTA 's director of communications. Several buses were soon engulfed in flames, and the fire burned for nearly two hours before it was declared under control. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. The lot where the fire broke out was filled with decommissioned buses scheduled for disposal, Busch said. He noted that no in-service buses were in the area where the blaze occurred and none were threatened by the fire.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Multiple SEPTA buses on fire at Philadelphia maintenance facility
Several Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority buses are on fire at a maintenance facility in Philadelphia. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE MASSIVE FIRE Video from NBC 10's chopper shows the heavy flames and a large plume of smoke coming from the buses. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch told NBC 10 that the facility is what they refer to as 'the bus graveyard,' where all out-of-service buses are stored. No injuries have been reported. It's unknown how the fire started. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Axios
25-02-2025
- Axios
SEPTA to install bulletproof cockpits in buses to protect drivers
SEPTA is planning to roll out bulletproof glass cockpits on buses this spring to protect drivers. Why it matters: This would likely be a first for any public transportation agency in the U.S., according to the union representing bus operators. State of play: SEPTA will install the armored-glass compartments on eight buses, agency spokesperson Andrew Busch tells Axios. The cockpits would completely encapsulate drivers and are not expected to reduce the number of passenger seats. SEPTA Police have tested the glass and the agency is finalizing engineering details — making sure the buses can handle the added weight. Context: SEPTA has seen a surge of assaults against operators and other transit workers since 2020. That includes the 2023 fatal shooting of SEPTA bus driver Bernard Gribbin, who was killed while operating a Route 23 bus. Plus: Safety concerns for SEPTA workers and riders also drew the scrutiny of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which conducted its own safety inspection and ordered SEPTA to make several fixes. Zoom in: Custom Glass Solutions, which has a factory in Bucks County, will build the cockpits. The Ohio-based company began working with Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234, the union representing SEPTA operators, on a design for the enclosures after Gribbin 's death. Between the lines: TWU bargained for the bulletproof enclosures in buses during last year's contract negotiations. What they're saying:"This safety measure is necessary because of the outrageous and grotesque level of violence against front-line transit workers," TWU International president John Samuelsen said in a statement. He recommended that transit agencies across the U.S. also install the bulletproof compartments.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NTSB investigating after SEPTA regional rail train catches fire in Delaware County
The Brief The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating after a regional rail train caught fire Thursday night in Delaware County. 325 passengers were on board the SEPTA train when it caught fire after leaving Center City, on its way to Wilmington. RIDLEY PARK, Pa. - Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are probing a fire on a SEPTA rail car in Delaware County Thursday night, causing the evacuation of over 300 people. Two blackened SEPTA cars sit idle at a North Philly rail yard and are the focus of intense interest from investigators after a fire on the train traveling south to Wilmington. What we know It was 6 p.m. Thursday on the six-car train heading out of the Crum Lynne station to Delaware when passengers smelled smoke, and the train was stopped just beyond the station. SEPTA said the fire came from under the first car with the spreading flames destroying it and heavily damaging the second. SEPTA said the 325 passengers were evacuated without injury. It was the SilverLiner 4 cars, placed on the rails in the mid-70s and making up the bulk of SEPTA's Regional Rail fleet, which burned. What they're saying William Walsh waited at the Crum Lynn Station Friday afternoon in Delaware County for his daily commute. He said, "When I saw it, I was like wow - missed that. I heard a couple of people talking about it on the train coming back." SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said, "The system is safe. We have no indication anything happened last night that is impacting other rail cars that we have in service." Dig deeper The blaze drew investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board to the city to inspect the cars and meet with SEPTA officials Friday afternoon. The images of flames leaping from a rail car window appear at a critical time for SEPTA as it works to attract riders who left during the pandemic and as the governor proposes $165 million in new funding. What's next William Walsh said he's sticking with SEPTA. He said, "If anything I think they'd be a little bit more on top of their safety now this happened."
