At

least two Fayette County schoolbuses were

destroyed by a fire late Monday night at the bus

barn behind the school system's headquarters on

Stonewall Avenue in Fayetteville.

Fire

investigators will not know the cause of the

blaze until the building itself is deemed safe to

reenter and continue the investigation.

Firefighters

arrived on the scene at about 11 p.m. Monday,

according to Fayetteville fire Chief Alan Jones.

The fire started near one bus and later moved to

a loft inside the building.

By

midnight, fire was shooting through the skylights

and more than 20 firefighters from the city and

Fayette County eventually worked the fire, Jones

said.

The

blaze was contained to the bus barn, but

firefighters had to concern themselves with fuel

leaks from buses inside, as well as gas pumps

just outside the building and the school system

warehouse right next door.

Due

to the contents of the building and their

flammability, firefighters backed out of the

building as much as possible while fighting the

fire, Jones said.

While

containing the blaze and investigating the scene

immediately afterward, firefighters heard sounds

coming from the building that indicated possible

structural damage. That stopped the investigation

for the time being.

"We

heard movement in the building and thought it

prudent to get out," said Jones.

city engineer came to the scene and ordered

everyone to stay out of the building until a

structural engineer could come inspect it. That

was expected to take place late Tuesday or early

today, Jones said.

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