MallRide catches fireBy EMMA MARSHALL, Special to the Daily NewsTuesday, November 18, 2008 |  |
| Firefighters scramble to put out a fire on an RTD MallRide bus on the 16th Street Mall at Stout Street yesterday. There were no injuries in the fire. Photo courtesy of Emma Marshall. | |
Shoppers and downtown workers felt the heat yesterday morning when a Regional Transportation District MallRide shuttle caught fire.The incident had pedestrians ablaze with curiosity just before 11 a.m. on the southeast corner of 16th and Stout streets along the 16th Street Mall. No injuries were reported, according to RTD spokeswoman Daria Serna.
Preliminary findings indicate that a short in the shuttle�s battery caused the fire, said Serna.
As many as eight passengers were on board at the time, but all exited safely and quickly, said the operator of the bus, according to RTD�s spokeswoman.
�It�s gonna blow!� said a newspaper vendor as he quickly gathered his papers in front of Starbucks, just a few shops down from the fire.�
There are 36 MallRides operating with hybrid-electric power, however, so there was never a danger for a big explosion, explained Serna.�
The backside of the bus was engulfed in flames at one point, but firefighters tamed the fire before it spread.�
After a few moments, the fire was out and a thick cloud of smoke blew across the crowd waiting for the southbound light rail directly across the intersection from the bus.
Bystanders sat on nearby benches, close enough to feel the heat of the flames and inhale the smoke. The only reaction was a few sour faces caused by a mouthful of smoke, and a mild cough from anyone walking by.
The fire disrupted RTD�s free MallRide service for 20 minutes, and the bus had to be towed back to the station for maintenance.�
Over 50,000 people ride the free shuttle on an average weekday, according to RTD.
