Overview

• The blaze erupted shortly after 6:15 a.m. at the Midvale District facility on Roberts Avenue and was upgraded to a three-alarm fire by 7:30 a.m., coming under control around 8:10 a.m.
• More than 150 firefighters tackled the blaze despite cramped conditions and water supply challenges before securing the scene by mid-morning.
• Officials estimate that roughly 40 decommissioned buses, including both gas-powered and de-energized electric vehicles, were damaged in the conflagration.
• Heavy smoke and emergency operations forced closures on nearby Roosevelt Boulevard and Germantown Avenue, causing local traffic disruptions.
• No injuries were reported and SEPTA’s active bus routes remained unaffected since the vehicles involved were out of service and awaiting disposal.