Electric buses started burning in traffic - police officers in gas masks warned residents about the smoke
Published at 09:52





On Thursday, an electric bus suddenly caught fire in traffic. According to the emergency services, the smoke may have been toxic and police officers wore gas masks in the area.

It was at 1 pm that SOS Alarm received a call about a fire in a bus on Västtrafik's bus line 1 out on Hälsö in Gothenburg's northern archipelago.

READ ALSO: Luleå's climate investment in electric buses ended in a multimillion-dollar fiasco

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Flames shot up from the bus and after the rescue service arrived at the scene, there was also a heavy smoke build-up. But the emergency services could not cope with the extinguishing work on their own and two hours later the fire took off again.

The emergency services contacted the bus company, who had to send out "an expert" to help extinguish the fire. The emergency services then let the bus burn out.

It is still unclear why the bus suddenly caught fire, but the assessment is that a so-called thermal rush has occurred in the battery, which is a form of electrical short circuit that is converted into heat in an uncontrolled manner. It may result in fire or explosion.

Police officers wore gas masks
Joakim Hallin at the rescue service has told GP that the smoke can be toxic and "absolutely not" healthy. Witnesses in Hälsö have stated that police wore gas masks in the area and warned residents not to be outdoors.

https://samnytt.nu/elbuss-borj....ade-brinna-i-trafike