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Bryce Canyon City Council rescinds support for park electric buses after fire-safety briefing
Summary
After a presentation on lithium‑ion battery fire risks, the Bryce Canyon City Council voted to rescind its prior support for siting electric shuttle buses in the national park, citing local firefighting limits, environmental cleanup concerns and rapid thermal‑runaway hazards.
Bryce Canyon City — The Bryce Canyon City Council voted Dec. 5 to rescind its earlier support for siting electric shuttle buses in the national park after hearing a fire‑safety presentation and video demonstrating lithium‑ion battery thermal runaway and its risks.
Speaker 4 presented an 8‑minute training video from the Fire Safety Research Institute and Underwriters Laboratories and described local emergency‑response limitations, testing results and the hazards of battery fires. The presenter warned that thermal runaway can produce toxic gases and very rapid fire growth that may leave residents and responders little time to escape: "these fires develop quickly, so you must evacuate immediately," Speaker 4 said during the presentation.
Speaker 4 said departments face limits in responding to large battery fires, noting mutual‑aid travel times and only one engine locally. He cited examples including a truck incident on I‑15 and a large battery facility evacuation elsewhere, and he warned that open‑sided vehicle shelters where buses would be stored and charged could increase exposure to dangerous fires and hazardous runoff. "I don't recommend that you support putting those at those garages down here — there's just way too many hazards," Speaker 4 told the council.
After discussion, Speaker 2 moved "to rescind our support of the electric buses in the national park based on safety and other factors." The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript does not show a roll‑call tally; the chair called for a voice vote and 'Aye' was heard before the chair declared the motion approved.
Why it matters: Council members said the decision reflects local emergency‑response limits and environmental cleanup concerns if a large lithium‑ion fire occurred near town or on the park perimeter. The council's rescission is a procedural statement of local opposition to the proposed siting; it does not itself change decisions made by the national park authority or other jurisdictions.
What’s next: Council members directed staff to communicate the council's position to project leaders and to seek alternative siting or mitigations. No further formal actions on the park shuttle project were recorded at the meeting.
