Empty school bus catches fire in Canarsie on first day of school in New York City • Brooklyn Paper

Brooklyn’s school bus fleet was one short on the first day of school after a fire broke out on board an empty bus in Canarsie.

The squat yellow bus was parked in a driveway beside a private residence on the 1400 block of East 93rd Street and caught fire at around 6 a.m. on Sept. 5, according to the FDNY. Flames quickly spread to the home and a garage on the property.

But a team of 60 firefighters and paramedics arrived on the scene minutes later, and had brought the blaze under control before 7 a.m. No injuries were reported, though the school bus was destroyed and the home was badly damaged. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and is under investigation by the FDNY’s fire marshal. A Department of Education representative said they had not received any reports of bus fires, so it was unlikely the bus was the property of the city. 

This is a breaking news story, check back for additional updates. 

Last updated Sept. 5, 2024, 5:30 p.m.