Authorities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. said that nine buses with features aimed at preventing fires have been put into operation on the No.3 bus route on Monday.

?This photo shows a smoke detector inside one of the buses.

Another 3 buses will be added on the line by the end of the month, and 38 will be put into operation on line No.9 bus in the near future - with the aim of introducing these buses all over the city.

The buses boast special equipment such as smoke detectors and a water tank. Chen Xiaogang, a manager in the city's bus system, said that the bus driver pushes a button - which operates the spray in 10 smoke detectors in just a few seconds. The temperature in the vehicle can be reduced to below 43 degree centigrades in 10 seconds, and the fire can be extinguished in one minute.

The authorities also said that the cost of the research and installation of this system amounts to about 10,000 yuan ($1,505.7).

Last Monday, a double-decker bus caught fire in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. There were no casualties, but only the shell of the bus was left after the fire had been put out.