The former CATS bus station caught on fire early in the morning on December 19, 2023. Anderson firefighters came through and saw the blaze. They worked quickly to put out the fire with water. The old bus station is located at 220 Jackson St. No one knows why the fire started. 

Luckily no one was hurt or injured in the old bus station because operations are now run from the new bus station. CATS built the Anderson Transit Center in 2021 and it opened in 2022. It is much bigger than the old one. They have better transportation, unlike the old bus station. The new station is bigger and more modern.

CATS did not respond to our request for an interview. However, old buildings like this catch fire often for a variety of common reasons. Some reasons that old buildings catch on fire include flammable building materials, lack of an active sprinkle or fire suppression system, flammable debris, and decaying electrical systems.

According to D26 firefighting instructor Bill Barowsky the easiest way to prevent fires from happening starts with a good housekeeping. Don’t leave things on candles or cooking pots left unchecked and make sure you close your door before you go. Charging cords and cars can cause fires too.