Fire Destroys HHH School Bus, Two Firefighters Injured

Two firefighters were injured while battling a blaze at the Half Hollow Hills Transportation Center Sunday night, officials said.  

The fire, which began around 8:30 p.m., destroyed a Half Hollow Hills school bus and caused "mainly smoke damage" to the building on Burrs Road in Dix Hills, Melville Fire Department Chief Robert Warren said.  

A Melville firefighter was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and a Huntington Manor firefighter is also in the hospital after falling into an open pit in the bus garage, where the fire started, Warren said.  

Both firefighters are expected to be OK, Warren said. 

The Dix Hills and Plainview fire departments also helped fight the blaze. 

Warren said the cause of the fire was unknown, but arson investigators were on the scene Sunday night. 

There were no signs of a break-in at the building, said Victor Manuel, HHH assistant superintendent of finance and facilities.  

The bus that was destroyed had broken down on Friday, which is why it was in the garage, Manuel said.  

The fire will not affect HHH school bus travel Monday, Manuel said. 

"It will be business as usual tomorrow with respect to routes," he said. 

Calls to the transportation center will be re-directed Monday, Manuel said.