Hydrogen Bus and Fueling Station Inflames at Golden Empire Transit, Consumed by Flames
In an unexpected turn of events, a fire broke out at Golden Empire Transit (GET) located at 1830 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, California, on July 18, 2023. The incident occurred at the state-of-the-art hydrogen fueling station that opened seven months prior.
The fire, which occurred at around 1:15 a.m., resulted in the destruction of a hydrogen bus valued at $1.1 million. However, the primary tanks of the fueling station remained unaffected, and no reported injuries were linked to the incident.
The cause of the fire is yet to be explicitly detailed, but preliminary investigations suggest electrical malfunction as a plausible cause, similar to incidents reported elsewhere.
The Bakersfield Fire Department responded swiftly to the incident, and the functioning safety mechanisms in place likely minimized damage to the fueling station. Despite this, a section of the fueling station was damaged during the fire.
The fire incident could potentially cause delays in GET's services due to the unavailability of fuel for their 10 hydrogen buses.
GET is transitioning to Zero Emission Fuel pursuant to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) requirement. The transit company started this transition and has purchased 10 hydrogen buses, making them the first in Kern County to have a hydrogen fueling station.
Janet Sanders, the Marketing Director for Golden Empire Transit, expressed her gratitude for the swift action of the Bakersfield Fire Department and reassured the public that they are committed to ensuring the safety of their passengers and infrastructure.
It is worth noting that greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector account for about 27% of total United States' GHG emissions. Transitions like the one undertaken by GET are crucial in reducing these emissions and moving towards a more sustainable future.
As the investigation continues, more details about the exact cause of the fire and the performance of the safety systems at the site will be revealed.
Sources:
- Golden Empire Transit transitions to zero-emission fleet
- Fire at Golden Empire Transit hydrogen bus and fueling station
- Preliminary investigation suggests electrical cause for hydrogen bus fire in Belfort
The fire at Golden Empire Transit (GET) hydrogen bus and fueling station could potentially impact the financial aspect, as the destruction of a hydrogen bus worth $1.1 million might strain their budget. In the realm of environmental-science, this incident underscores the importance of investigating the role of technology, particularly in the field of hydrogen buses, to ensure safety and minimize such occurrences in the future.
