Fire Damages Dozens of New School Buses
A fire at Puyallup (Wash.) School District's bus facility damages more than 28 new school buses. Nearly 70 employees are evacuated, and no one is injured.

A fire at a bus facility at Puyallup (Wash.) School District damaged more than 28 new school buses. Photo by Puyallup Police Department

A fire at a bus facility at Puyallup (Wash.) School District damaged more than 28 new school buses. Photo by Puyallup Police Department
PUYALLUP, Wash. — A fire at a school district bus facility here damaged dozens of new school buses on Wednesday.
Workshop participants at Puyallup School District were updating their First Aid certification when the fire alarm was pulled, according to a news release from the district. Nearly 30 people were participating in the workshop, and nearly 70 employees in total were evacuated from the Puyallup School Operations (Facilities) campus when the fire broke out.
Sounds of explosions were heard coming from the bus facility fire, according to the Puyallup Police Department’s Twitter page.
At 2:21 p.m., Central Pierce Fire was dispatched to the district’s bus maintenance facility. More than 28 buses were damaged, according to the Puyallup Police Department.
All staff members were accounted for, and no injuries have been reported. Firefighters brought the fire under control and watched for hot spots south of the facility.
By evening, the street was still closed, and officials were still investigating the cause of the fire.
With students starting school on Sept. 6, district leaders will be making plans for use of the remaining fleet of buses to ensure safe transport of students on their first day of school.
More Safety

FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →
Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?
NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.
Read More →
NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA
Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.
Read More →
How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs
Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.
Read More →
NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes
The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.
Read More →
2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing
New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.
Read More →
Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York
A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.
Read More →
NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners
Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.
Read More →
