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Major Blaze at SEPTA 'Bus Graveyard' Closes Roads in Philadelphia

Fire crews struggle to access the densely packed depot of decommissioned buses, leading to closures on Roosevelt Boulevard near Germantown Avenue.

Officials inspect the burnt wreckage of a bus at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority facility in Philadelphia, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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 Thick black smoke billows as 20 SEPTA buses engulfed in flames at a Philadelphia bus depot
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Overview

  • The fire, which began Thursday morning at the Midvale Nicetown Depot, continues to burn through rows of retired SEPTA buses.
  • Firefighters report that tightly packed decommissioned vehicles have blocked water lines and delayed containment efforts in the so-called bus cemetery.
  • A towering cloud of black smoke has loomed over Hunting Park and been spotted for miles, with aerial footage showing it drifting across the city.
  • The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management issued street closures on Roosevelt Boulevard near Germantown Avenue and at least three fire alarms rang out across the city.
  • SEPTA officials confirm no injuries and note that the depot housed only out-of-service buses kept for parts.