Fire destroys 12 buses at Florence depot, damages 7 more

A fire tore through the Autolinee Toscane bus depot on Viale XI Agosto in Florence overnight, destroying 12 buses and damaging seven others, Italian outlets La Nazione and TGCom24 reported. The alarm was raised at around 02:10 on Friday, and firefighters from several stations across the province were sent to tackle the blaze.

Four fire crews and four water tankers took part in the operation, drawing on personnel from Florence West, Calenzano, the city's central station and the airport detachment, along with support from the Prato fire command, La Nazione reported. Firefighters also used Efestus, a specialist airport fire vehicle carrying 8,100 litres of water and 500 litres of foam, which helped bring the flames under control and allowed crews to stop the fire spreading to other buses parked in the depot.

No one was injured, La Nazione reported. Police, the Florence municipal civil protection service and a medical team were also sent to the scene as a precaution. The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and police are investigating.

Tuscany regional president Eugenio Giani called the fire "a very serious act that directly affects the community and the service", while regional transport minister Filippo Boni visited the site and said the loss to public assets was severe. Boni said the affected buses were part of the regional fleet that authorities have been gradually renewing, and called for clarity, accountability and the truth about what caused the blaze.

Massimo Milli, of the transport union Faisa Cisal Toscana, said the union expressed its full solidarity with Autolinee Toscane and its workers over what he called a dramatic event, and said he hoped the cause and any responsibility would be established quickly.

Autolinee Toscane's bus services across the Florence area could face disruption because of the 19 vehicles destroyed or damaged in the fire, La Nazione reported.