A plume of black smoke was rising towards the sky and was visible for several kilometers this Wednesday around 5:15 p.m. At the origin of this untimely release: a bus in flames.
The RATP vehicle, serving line 249 Dugny – Place Valérie André – Porte des Lilas, caught fire while traveling in rue Jules-Auffret in Pantin, on the edge of Pré-Saint-Gervais. He came to a stop near the Montigny – Retirement home stop, according to RATP services. A few passengers were on board. “The machinist had his bus evacuated immediately”, specifies the transport company.
According to the first elements, a technical problem would be at the origin of the fire. “There is no intentional or voluntary dimension”, assures the town hall of Pantin. “An investigation is underway to determine the causes of the incident”, indicates for its part the RATP.
Large flames quickly devoured the carcass of the vehicle. Alerted, the firefighters quickly intervened on the scene. The fire was extinguished “by means of a high-power lance and a foam lance to smother the fire”, explains the spokesperson for the Paris fire brigade (BSPP).
The fire spread to street furniture
The flames, however, had time to “spread to a traffic light, a hedge of about forty meters as well as to street furniture”, indicates the representative of the BSPP. No one was injured in the blaze, the emergency services said. “No traveler was injured, completes the RATP. The machinist was taken care of by his management. »
A security perimeter was set up by the police during the intervention. Traffic was cut off for about two hours. “Two bus lines in the sector, the 249 and the 330, have been diverted”, specifies the services of the RATP.
Traffic was able to resume slowly from around 7 p.m. “Alternating traffic has been put in place while the bus is evacuated, underlines the municipality. Traffic was able to resume as normal around 9 p.m. »
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