![]() "I don't believe any of the buses were electric," said Hernandez, who is also a lead fire investigator.įact check: Video shows exploding compressed natural gas vehicle, not electric carĮV FireSafe, an Australian company that researches electric vehicle fires, has verified at least 18 high-voltage battery fires in electric buses worldwide since 2010, according to the company's website. Neither the media reports nor the industry publication mentioned electric buses. The fire was also covered by a bus industry publication, which reported that 21 buses were lost. Multiple media outlets reported the blaze spread to the buses after an adjacent pallet yard caught fire.Ĭompton Fire Battalion Chief Luis Hernandez told USA TODAY the origins of the fire "had nothing to do with the buses." While the investigation is ongoing, he said the blaze likely originated in an alley next to the industrial area before spreading through the complex. 26, 2021, in an industrial area of Compton, California. The buses were consumed by a fire that began nearby There is no evidence that the buses in the video were electric, and they did not "burst into flames without warning." The buses were consumed by a fire that began outside the parking lot. A Facebook version of the post also circulated.įollow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False The Twitter post was viewed more than 100,000 times and also shared widely on Facebook, according to Crowdtangle, a social media analytics tool. "Kamala Harris: The propensity for electric buses to burst into flames without warning is a small price to pay for having USB outlets next to every seat," reads the caption of the April 9 post ( direct link, archive link). While winds were calm in the morning, they were expected to increase through the day and neighborhoods downwind could experience very unhealthy air quality.Īssociated Press reporter John Antczak contributed from Los Angeles.Watch Video: Chicago hops on electric bus trend to go green The claim: Video shows electric buses that 'burst into flames without warning'Ī Twitter video shows Vice President Kamala Harris praising electric buses, including the installation of passenger USB chargers, while buses are shown burning in a separate frame. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a special advisory for the immediate area, urging people who smelled smoke or could see ash to limit exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed. One round of winds hit Thursday and another was predicted to develop by the weekend. It took several hours to control the flames.įortunately, the fire erupted in a calm period between bouts of Santa Ana winds that have been sweeping through Southern California. Some nearby residents left their homes, but firefighters pouring streams of water prevented the flames from spreading to residences. ![]() The fire was reported around 4:45 a.m., and more than 100 firefighters and 26 fire engines from multiple departments responded to the industrial district surrounded by neighborhoods about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles. ![]() He said he tried to douse the blaze with a hose. ![]() “They’re barbecuing, making fires to stay warm,” Christian Hernandez told KNBC-TV.Įlias Hernandez said the fire burned a homeless man’s belongings before spreading to a utility pole, and “from there, it just started spreading everywhere.”” Nearby residents blamed a homeless encampment in the alley. ![]()
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