Heater may be to blame for bus fire

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - An area resident notified authorities about the smell of smoke, during a fire at the Ken Ton bus garage . A school bus was completely destroyed, and two more were damaged, during the overnight fire on Military Road.

The caller contacted Town of Tonawanda Police around 1 a.m., saying they smelled smoke and something electrical burning at the bus garage. At the scene, bus number 380 was completely destroyed. Buses 379 and 381 were damaged.

According to Ken Ton Transportation Supervisor Jack Burns, the new bus will cost $110,000. 

Brett Ryder, from the Sheridan Park Fire Department, says they are investigating the incident, but he says it doesn’t seem suspicious.

Town of Tonawanda Police Lieutenant Nick Bado said investigators are looking into new block heaters as a possible cause. The heaters plug into the engine of the bus.