We've heard of bus wars, but an allegation of bus arson ahs taken that much further tonight. Police and fire officials say they suspect arson was the case in a fire this morning on Warrie Head Street in the area of Dolphin and Raccoon Streets. The fire destroyed two buses but it threatened an entire neighborhood. Keith Swift has the story.
Keith SwiftReporting,
This was the scene this morning on Warrie Head Street - firemen, BEL linesmen, two smoldering luxury buses, and area residents looking on. The fire ripped through and completely destroyed this bus - leaving only what you see here - the frame. The other bus was partially destroyed. The fire burnt right in front
of Lorna Brown's house and it scorched her fence, which sent her into a panic.
Lorna Brown, Area Resident
"As I came from the shop I was going inside and was going to cook some dinner and my friend told to hurry come out my house and look in front of my house. When I came out all I saw was smoke and I was running barefoot because the fire station wasn't far from my house and I was running and I didn't see the fire truck and I was wondering what I could. Then I saw some police coming and I don't know how they got through but they took kind of long to reach here. And after a while, my yard caught fire and I just felt excited and frightened because I wouldn't want my gas tank to blow up because trouble would start again."
Keith Swift,
Was your home or yard damaged?
Lorna Brown,
"It bunt the yard. But the fire was
coming close to us and it couldn't reached the gas tank."
Keith Swift,
So your house was in danger?
Lorna Brown,
"Yes because it and it would have been trouble because a lot of houses are close to each other around here."
One of those houses belong to Deborah Petzold who lives behind Lorna Brown. She was doing laundry when the fire started.
Deborah Petzold, Area Resident
"We saw the smoke and we ran out. I told my son to go and see what is happening. And when he went to see, he told me the bus on fire and so I told him to hurry go and call the people at the fire station. But when he went they weren't there and so when I came out and saw the fire, I hollered for my neighbor and told her to come out because it was a fire and I went out to the back and I got my kids out of the house."
Keith Swift,
Were you frightened?
Deborah Petzold,
"Yes, why not. It is one day before birthday and I don't want the neighborhood to burn down."
And while nobody's house was burnt - two luxury buses were destroyed. They are the property of Shane Bennett. His brother Richard was clueless as to what might have caused two parked buses to spontaneously combust. He did say the buses were used to carry tourists.
Keith Swift,
When was the last time the buses were used for a tour?
Richard Bennett,
"I believe it is was last week. Last week the white one was used."
Keith Swift,
Any idea what might have caused this fire?
Richard Bennett,
"No."
Keith Swift,
Do you suspect arson?
Richard Bennett,
"Not that I know of. I am no expert in fire or arson so I would be the wrong person to be asking that type of question."
ACP Allen Whylie, Eastern Division Commander
"We are not ruling out the possibility that it was indeed set."
And its many questions and few answers on Warrie Head Street. Reporting for 7NEWS I am Keith Swift.
Fire Department investigations into the cause of the fire continue.
