Deadly CNG Blast Rocks El Paso Bus Garage

Explosion at Sun Metro maintenance facility leaves two dead, several injured

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:11pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a punctured, twisted metal CNG gas cylinder, the surface textured and reflecting harsh, dramatic lighting, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of the deadly Sun Metro bus explosion.The aftermath of a catastrophic CNG bus explosion at an El Paso transit facility exposes the risks of maintaining alternative-fuel vehicles in enclosed spaces.El Paso Today

A compressed natural gas (CNG) Sun Metro bus fell off a hydraulic lift and exploded inside the transit agency's maintenance center in East El Paso on February 11, 2025, triggering a deadly two-alarm fire. The blast killed two employees and injured several others, causing severe structural damage to the facility.

Why it matters

The Sun Metro explosion has raised concerns about the safety protocols and facility designs needed to handle CNG buses, which pose different risks than traditional diesel vehicles. The incident highlights the importance of proper ventilation, gas monitoring systems, and specialized worker training when maintaining alternative-fuel fleets.

The details

Investigators say the bus slipped off a hydraulic lift and struck an adjacent control panel, puncturing a CNG cylinder. The breach triggered an uncontrolled gas release that ignited in a rapid deflagration, turning the bay into a fireball. The blast ripped through work bays, collapsed sections of the roof and walls, and left several mechanics and staff injured. Two employees, Ruben Ibarra and German Garcia, later died from their injuries.

  • The incident occurred on February 11, 2025.
  • The Fire Marshal's Office completed its investigation in mid-May 2025 and ruled the event unintentional.

The players

Sun Metro

The public transit agency for the city of El Paso, Texas, operating a fleet of buses including compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.

Ruben Ibarra

One of two Sun Metro employees who died from injuries sustained in the CNG bus explosion.

German Garcia

One of two Sun Metro employees who died from injuries sustained in the CNG bus explosion.

El Paso Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to the two-alarm blaze at the Sun Metro maintenance facility.

City of El Paso

The local government overseeing Sun Metro and coordinating the response and recovery efforts following the CNG bus explosion.

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What’s next

The city and Sun Metro continue to focus on stabilizing the damaged facility, coordinating insurance, and planning repairs to bring the maintenance center back online.

The takeaway

The Sun Metro CNG bus explosion has highlighted the unique safety challenges of maintaining alternative-fuel vehicles, emphasizing the need for proper facility design, gas monitoring systems, and specialized worker training to prevent such catastrophic incidents in the future.