Calgary Transit to review safety measures for natural gas-powered buses in wake of tragedy

City officials said Friday they’re reviewing the safety measures linked to its compressed natural gas transit bus fleet, one of which burst into flames Thursday following a collision with another city bus, leaving three dead and 16 injured.

City police said the collision between two buses in the 800 block of Saddletowne Circle N.E., igniting the CNG tanks on one of them.

“Within seconds, the fire intensified resulting in an explosion and significant fire inside the bus,” police said in a press release.

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Video taken of the incident shows columns of flame shooting from the roof of the stricken bus.

In a statement Friday, Calgary Transit said all of those CNG buses are subject to regular inspection, maintenance and safety checks. The agency was trying to determine what went wrong on Thursday.

“We will be working closely with the investigators to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and will conduct a review of our CNG operations to ensure any additional safety measures required are put in place,” they said.

“Calgary Transit will share more information as it becomes available.”

Calgary considers itself a leader in employing CNG buses, with the city citing its 44,300 sq.-ft. Stoney Transit Facility as the largest such refuelling complex on the continent and one of the biggest in the world.

According to the City of Calgary’s website, 347 of its fleet of 40-foot buses — 44 per cent of its fleet — is currently powered by CNG.

That’s slated to rise to half the fleet, or 399 buses, sometime next year in an ongoing initiative to replace Calgary Transit’s aging diesel buses as part of its vehicle diversification strategy .