First bus driver rushes to evacuate after it suddenly bursts into flames

A quick-thinking driver has evacuated passengers from a fireball First bus in Staffordshire.^[1] The vehicle started smoking before bursting into flames on Tuesday afternoon, in Fenton in Staffordshire.

First Potteries spokesman Ady Culpin told StokeonTrentLive:^[2] “We experienced a bus fire this afternoon whilst operating along Victoria Road in the Potteries. Our driver reacted quickly and safely evacuated passengers from the vehicle and called the fire service for assistance. No passengers or the driver sustained any injuries, and the bus was extinguished quickly when the fire service arrived. We are awaiting arrival of a support vehicle to take the bus back to our depot.”

A passenger spoke out, saying: “I was sitting at the back of the bus where the engine is, it smelt of burning rubber initially but I thought it was just a popped tyre. The driver was slow getting everybody off the bus, bear in mind there was just smoke for five minutes straight. We all weren’t evacuated until it was spitting in flames.

“I hope everyone is okay and not ill from the smoke, it sure made me cough a few times. I hope everybody got back home safe and it’s lucky we were all unharmed when getting off the bus. I made sure I was the last one off.” And a witness said”My son was passing by with his friend. Everyone around was quite shocked. The fire brigade came quickly and did a fantastic job.”

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were called to Edward Street, Fenton, just before 2.10pm this afternoon following reports of a bus fire. On arrival, we found the rear of a single-decker bus well-alight. We used breathing apparatus and hose reels to extinguish the fire. Crews remain at the scene.” A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We were called to Edward Street, Fenton, at 2.20pm this afternoon following reports of a bus fire. We attended with our colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service also in attendance.

“On arrival, we found the rear of a single-decker bus well-alight. We remain at the scene and we are encouraging motorists to seek alternate routes.”

References

^ in Staffordshire. (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} StokeonTrentLive: (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^}