Columbia Fire Department provides bus to keep people warm

A bus known as Bus 76 was taken to an apartment fire early Thursday morning to keep about 20 displaced residents warm and out of the snow.

The bus was taken to 2811 Mexico Gravel Road.

Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Brad Fraizer said Bus 76 has been taken out only twice this winter.

Frazier said the department has had the bus for 11 years. It was originally an Avis bus, and the fire department paid $15,000 for it.

Fraizer said the bus is equipped with blankets, water, Gatorade, coffee and snacks. He said Bus 76 is valuable because it gives displaced residents a place to regroup.

The bus is taken out when a lot of people are affected by an incident like a fire. Frazier said the fire department sometimes uses it to transport people during events, give emergency crews a place to rest during a long situation and for training scenarios.

Frazier said Bus 76 is used for extremely cold weather and extremely hot weather. He said firefighters use it whenever they feel it is needed.