The fire raged in a workshop for electric buses.
A heavy fire has destroyed several buses in an Arriva building on Korvetweg in Maastricht. Electric buses, among other things, were stored in this building. The fire, which was reminiscent of an earlier one devastating fire at Multiobus in Tienen, Flanders, where 24 buses, including 13 brand new electric ones, were lost, caused considerable damage.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire in Maastricht. Thanks to quick action by employees, several buses could be removed from the site on time, although the exact number of buses that were destroyed by the flames is not yet known. The cause of the fire is also still under investigation research.
The emergency services quickly arrived on site and took measurements in the area to check whether harmful substances, such as asbestos, had been released. According to the South Limburg Fire Department, these measurements provided not an alarming valuen op. The fire signal was given around 02.00 a.m., which brought the fire under control. Despite the major fire, Arriva's timetable could be restarted as planned, a company spokeswoman said.
This fire brings back memories of the devastating fire in Tienen, Belgium, where a similar situation occurred. 24 buses were lost in that fire, including 13 electric buses that had only just been put into use.
This incident once again highlights the vulnerability of bus shelters to such fires, especially when electric vehicles are involved. Although the cause of the fire in Maastricht has not yet been determined, authorities will likely investigate whether there are any similarities with the fire in Tienen.
precautionary measures
The fire brigade closely monitored the situation all night and precautions were taken to prevent the spread of potentially harmful substances. Local residents were informed and reassured about the situation. However, the fire brigade remains alert and will carry out additional checks in the coming days to ensure that there are no more hidden sources of fire.
Arriva has announced that they will assess the damage and begin repairs as soon as possible. The company has assured its customers that services will continue to operate as normally as possible, despite significant damage to the premises and vehicles.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing. The authorities will work closely with Arriva to determine the exact circumstances and prevent recurrence in the future. Until then, the community will continue to eagerly await further details and results of the investigation.
