An ongoing electrical issue apparently sparked a Monday morning fire that damaged six SMART buses stationed outside Nankin Transit in Westland.

Westland officials reported on Facebook that the fire department received several reports that multiple buses were on fire in the 32150 Dorsey St. parking area.

The buses apparently were plugged into a block heater because of the cold and an electrical issue most likely caused the flames, agreed city officials and Nankin Transit Director Jim Ridener.

Six of the seven SMART buses outside were damaged and five of those six were entirely wrecked, said Kelly Eggers, Westland Fire Department’s fire marshal.

He said the electrical issue may have began a few weeks ago.

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No one was injured. The building did not receive damage, and services have gone uninterrupted. 

Nankin Transit was slated to receive three new buses before the flames happened and those arrived later Monday, Ridener said.

He said that the transit company was making about 300 trips for seniors and the disabled before the pandemic.

These days, the buses conduct about 120 to 150 daily trips throughout Wayne, Westland, Inkster, Garden City and Canton Township.  

Contact reporter Susan Vela at svela@hometownlife.com or 248-303-8432. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela. 

https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/westland/2021/01/19/fire-destroys-smart-fire-destroys-smart-buses-in-westlandbuses-westland/4211705001/