SAMUT PRAKAN: An airconditioned bus parked inside a depot in Muang district went up in flames shortly after midnight on Wednesday, prompting a police investigation to find what caused the blaze.
Pol Capt Rathapong Srinok, a Muang police duty officer, said the fire broke out at about 12.30am in the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority bus depot in tambon Thai Ban Mai.
The bus was a No. 145, plying the Samut Prakan-Mor Chit 2 route.
Sanoh Sinthawee, a bus dispatcher, said the vehicle had been parked in the depot for several days. Shortly after midnight, he saw flames rising from the bus rooftop, where NGV cylinders and an air conditioner ventilator were installed.
The fire spread quickly and soon the entire bus was in flames. He and several bus drivers and fare collectors tried to put out the blaze with chemical extinguishers but were not successful, Mr Sanoh said. He called emergency services for help.
Fire engines from the Tambon Bang Pu Municipality were dispatched to the depot. By the time the fire was brought under control, the bus had been completely destroyed.
It was believed the fire was started by sparks from a short circuit of the wiring on the rooftop of the bus.
Police were investigating.