Detroit Bus Service Delays Possible After Huge Terminal Fire

DETROIT, MI — Bus service interruptions are possible Friday after a huge fire broke out overnight at a Detroit Department of Transportation’s Shoemaker terminal on the city’s east side. The fire, which was reported about 1:30 a.m., burned for several hours, according to media reports.

Several explosions occurred while firefighters were working to to bring the blaze under control. The exact number of buses damage is unknown, but is believed to be fewer than 10, according to DDOT officials.

No one was injured in the two-alarm fire. The cause remains under investigation.

DDOT Director Dan Dirks told WDIV-TV that about 20 percent of the fleet isn’t used, so there will be enough buses to cover all routes. However, the fire scene is so large that buses were delayed leaving the terminal, resulting in delays.

In a statement, DDOT said that though a complete list of affected routes was not immediately available, passengers can view real-time route information by downloading the DDOT bus or app or the Text-My-Bus service. To use that, text your nearest bus stop location to 50464. The customer service department can be reached at (313) 993-1300.

Dirks told CBS Detroit that a service attendant pulling a bus into the terminal to be cleaned and fueled for the morning route “noticed there was some smoke coming coming out of the back where the engine is.”

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