Firefighters delayed at the scene of a fire after having to dig out nearby hydrant

SALT LAKE CITY — Firefighters helped to douse a fire that consumed a bus Saturday morning, but were deterred momentarily after having to dig out a nearby hydrant from the snow.

The bus somehow caught fire just before 10 a.m. and the driver, who was the only one one the bus, called 911. The driver also attempted to use the on-board fire extinguisher to battle the flames, according to Salt Lake City Fire Department spokesman Jasen Asay.

Asay said the crew was delayed by having to dig out the hydrant. All hydrants in the area, he said, were buried in snow from the storm that hit the area over the last two days.

Once the hydrant was cleared from the snow, the fire, located at 2147 E. Pollock Road, was quickly extinguished. The bus driver was not injured in the fire, but the bus was considered a total loss.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

— Wendy Leonard

Twitter: wendyleonards