EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Sun Metro fire that killed two people earlier this year was caused by a gas cylinder that was punctured after a bus had fallen off a hydraulic lift, according to a report from the El Paso Fire Marshal’s Office.
The report says the cylinder, composed of compressed natural gas, was punctured by an adjacent control panel for a hydraulic lift after a Sun Metro bus fell off the lift. This resulted in an “uncontrolled release of flammable gas.”
“The resulting mechanical friction or electrical current ignited the gas-air mixture, triggering a deflagration event and multiple explosions.”
El Paso Fire Marshal’s Office
The fire and explosion killed two people and injured six others in February at the Sun Metro Transit Operations Center at 10151 Montana Ave.
The report says the explosion happened in bay 26, and the operations center was equipped with 35 work bays.
Photos from the report show a bus tipped over in bay 26, lying on its driver’s side. The bus was a total loss and showed fire and explosion effects.
The fire was classified as unintentional, and the case has been closed, the report said.
Read: Read More