A late-night fire on March 12 prompted by a mechanical failure on a single bus destroyed four electric school buses at Allen Brook School in Williston, with damages estimated at over $2 million to the vehicles and their charging stations, state police say.

The Williston Fire Department responded around 10:20 p.m. after custodial staff discovered the buses ablaze in the school’s parking lot on Talcott Road and called 911. Fire crews—approximately 11 firefighters—arrived within three minutes of dispatch, using a deck gun and two hand lines to extinguish the flames in about five minutes.

The rapid response prevented the fire from spreading to nearby structures, vehicles, or the school building. No injuries occurred, as the buses were unoccupied and charging at the time.

Deputy Fire Chief Timothy Gerry requested assistance from the Vermont Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit (FEIU), comprising Vermont State Police and Division of Fire Safety personnel.

The joint investigation concluded that the blaze originated from a mechanical failure in one bus, which then spread to the three adjacent buses due to their close proximity. Authorities have determined the incident is not suspicious, ruling out foul play.

The Champlain Valley School District, which operates a fleet of about 60 buses including eight leased electric models (valued at roughly $400,000 each through a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets and EPA grant funding), has grounded its remaining electric buses as a precaution. District officials noted that most electric vehicle fires historically occur during charging, though the specific failure here was mechanical and not battery-related in initial assessments.

Superintendent Adam Bunting emphasized support for students, particularly younger ones who may have questions or concerns, while Chief Operating Officer Gary Marckres highlighted efforts to secure spare buses and additional resources amid ongoing transportation challenges. Allen Brook School and Williston Central School remained closed through at least Thursday—and potentially the rest of the week—for site cleanup, debris removal, and coordination with investigators.

This event follows a separate February school bus fire in the area (not confirmed electric), where an empty bus was totaled on a flatbed trailer at the Williston rest area off Interstate 89.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Sgt. David Hurwitch of the Vermont State Police at (802) 878-7111.