District investigates bus-yard fire that damaged several buses

District administrators reported that a fire in the bus yard damaged multiple buses and infrastructure and that an investigation and insurance follow-up will occur.

According to remarks made during the meeting, the incident was discovered in a bus parking area where plastic components on several buses melted. An administrator described video footage that showed small hand-sanitizer bottles in a container and said the bottles may have undergone "spontaneous combustion"; the administrator said a fire investigator would be asked to examine the cause. "Those little bottles — all the little hand sanitizer — spontaneous combustion; you see it on video," the administrator said.

Responders used water from trucks and located previously installed hydrants at the site; staff noted the hydrants had been installed during modernization work but had not been turned on until the response. The district said some records containers were damaged by both fire and subsequent water used to extinguish the blaze; administrators said they would assess insurance records and replacement needs.

Next steps: district staff said they will secure a report from fire investigators and follow up on insurance and repairs; the board was informed that no serious injuries were reported in the excerpt and that steps are underway to determine cause and extent of damage.