Massive blaze destroys dozens of buses near Tel Aviv

Investigators exploring possibility of arson at Ramat Gan bus terminal; fire damage could cost up to NIS 30 million

By ToI Staff 17 October 2015, 8:22 pm

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Smoke rises from the Dan bus terminal in Ramat Gan during a major fire at the site, October 17, 2015 (screencap from Ynet live feed)

A massive fire broke out Saturday at the Dan Public Transportation company terminal in Ramat Gan, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, causing heavy damage to the site and burning 32 buses to a shell.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

Over two dozen firefighting crews rushed to the scene of the blaze Saturday afternoon, after residents of the area reported seeing smoke and hearing explosions from the site. Dan drivers were also called to the scene in order to move parked buses away from the terminal, in an attempt to prevent any additional vehicles from catching fire.

By sundown, the firefighting teams managed to extinguish the flames.

According to the Ynet news website, the cost of damages from the fire was estimated to be upwards of NIS 30 million (about $7.82 million).

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, and investigators are looking into the possibility of arson, according to Channel 2 television.

The Dan management said in a statement that buses in the Tel Aviv area, where the company operates, will run on schedule on Saturday night and Sunday, despite the fire.