Then, the fire spread to several cars parked along the road in Bay Ridge.
The strong smell of gasoline-charred cars hung in the air for hours after the incident.
It all started when the bus ran over a mattress, which got caught under the back carriage and punctured the gas line shortly after 11 p.m.
Gas poured from the bus and flowed into a gutter, which triggered a fiery stream under a row of cars.
The S53 bus had exited just after the bridge, dragging the blazing twin-sized mattress.
Passengers were evacuated without incident.
Six cars were torched.
No injuries were reported.
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