INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis firefighters are investigating after an IndyGo bus caught fire Wednesday morning on the city's near north side. An IMPD police report says officers arrested a 45-year-old man at the scene. That man has since been charged in the arson.
According to an IFD spokesperson, the bus caught fire around 7:10 a.m. April 24 at the bus stop near North Meridian and East 38th streets.
IFD said four people, including the bus driver, were on the bus when it caught fire. Medics took two people to the hospital for minor injuries, but IFD said everyone is expected to be OK.
The bus driver said he noticed smoke coming from behind him shortly before the bus went up in flames, according to IFD.
IFD says the estimated damage to the bus and shelter will cost approximately $2 million. A spokesperson with IndyGo said witnesses believe one of the passengers started the fire.
Fire investigators confirmed there was no malfunction with the bus or its electrical systems in regards to the fire.
Arson investigators were called to the scene to work to determine how the fire started.
Police arrested DeMarcus McCloud, of Indianapolis. He is now facing three charges for arson.
According to court documents, the bus driver stopped at the shelter to investigate after smelling gas before seeing a fire in the middle of the bus. The driver gave police a description of the man who had been sitting where the fire started and said he had been carrying a jug with yellowish liquid.
A man matching that description was found at a nearby fast food restaurant with a burn to his leg and "the smell of an accelerant coming from him," according to court documents. The bus driver identified McCloud as the same person.
Video from inside the bus allegedly showed McCloud pouring liquid from the jug on the floor of the bus before lighting a piece of paper on fire, throwing that paper on the liquid and running off the bus, according to court documents.
PHOTOS: IndyGo bus catches fire Wednesday morning
Both directions of Meridian Street were blocked, south of Meridian Street, while firefighters investigated.
IndyGo's 38th Street station was closed, and the Red Line detoured around that area.
IndyGo released the following statement about the arrest and damage to the 38th Street station:
IndyGo is pleased to learn a person has been detained in connection with a bus fire that happened this morning along the Red Line at 38th and Meridian streets. A joint investigation including IndyGo, the Indianapolis Fire Department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is underway.
"The safety of our riders and teammates is always our top priority,” said IndyGo Interim President and CEO Jennifer Pyrz. “We’d like to take this opportunity to applaud our coach operator who did everything right and followed ‘See Something, Say Something’ operator training. As a result, he quickly jumped to action, ensuring riders got off the bus quickly and with no major injuries, likely saving lives today.”
The Red Line station at 38th and Meridian streets suffered minor surface damage. Cleanup is complete, and the station has reopened. The previous detour has been canceled, and the Red Line has returned to its normal route. This incident and the loss of the bus should not directly impact Red Line operations. Regarding the repairs and/or replacement of the bus, it is fully insured, and IndyGo is working with its insurance company on next steps.