Electric school bus catches fire in Los Angeles, driver hospitalized
by: Lily DallowPosted: Dec 10, 2025 / 11:28 AM PST
Updated: Dec 10, 2025 / 11:28 AM PST
An electric school bus burst into flames in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, prompting a massive emergency response and shutting down a stretch of the 210 Freeway in Sylmar, authorities said.
The fire was reported around 9:20 a.m. at 11460 W. Foothill Blvd., directly under the 210 Freeway overpass in the San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Sky5 was over the scene as heavy flames and thick black smoke poured from the fully involved bus.
No children were on board at the time of the fire, officials said. The driver, whose age and gender have not been released, was transported to a local hospital for minor smoke inhalation.
Because the bus is powered by lithium-ion batteries, LAFD said its HazMat units were called in to monitor air quality and water runoff. Officials told KTLA that overhaul operations — the process of ensuring the fire is fully extinguished and the battery system is stabilized — could take several hours.
CHP initially closed the on- and off-ramps at Osborne Street, later issuing a full SigAlert that temporarily shut down all lanes of the 210 Freeway in both directions. By late morning, the mainline had reopened, but CHP said the eastbound and westbound Osborne off-ramps will remain closed for several hours as crews continue overhaul and HazMat operations. LAPD also closed Foothill Boulevard in both directions beneath the freeway.
Command staff at the scene confirmed that the bulk of the flames had been knocked down but said crews would remain on site throughout the afternoon due to the complexities of extinguishing EV-related fires.
The cause of the fire is unknown. No injuries to firefighters were reported.
