Coaches and buses bursting into flames - why are they apparently so combustible? (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[GBM]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio Cornwall reporting this morning of another fire in Western Greyhound outstation at Liskeard.
Three vehicles destroyed, others OK, but fire investigators not permitting the ok vehicles out of the yard until their investigations are complete.
Arson being muted, but early days.
More disruption for passengers.

[bobm]

More now on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Website

Eleven Western Greyhound buses at the Liskeard depot cannot leave
Three buses have been destroyed in a second suspected arson attack at a Western Greyhound depot in Cornwall.

People living nearby raised the alarm after seeing the flames at the depot in Trevecca, Liskeard at about 06:30 GMT.

In May, 35 buses were written off after a severe fire in another suspected arson attack at the firm's depot in Summercourt.

Greyhound manager Mark Howarth said: "It is not as bad as the last one, but one wonders why they are doing this."

Police and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service have both confirmed that they are treating the fire at the Liskeard depot as arson.

Buses stuck
 
The fire has led to disruption to services because the depot and nearby roads have been closed while investigations continue.

Eleven Western Greyhound buses, including school buses, and two Plymouth City Bus vehicles parked at the Liskeard depot cannot leave.

Buses at the depot served three routes, the 593 between Newquay and Plymouth, the 572 between Polperro and Plymouth and the 573 between Polperro and Callington.

Mr Howarth said said: "We are waiting for the all clear to get the buses out.

"We are trying to run the full 593 service with buses from Summercourt, but the 572 and 573 and related school buses won't operate until further notice."

Plymouth City Bus said that services 120 and 121 were affected, but replacement buses were on their way.

The firm tweeted: "Apologies for this disruption which is beyond our control."

Two men arrested on suspicion of arson after last year's fire at Summercourt were released on police bail.

[LiskeardRich]

Three Mercedes Varios destroyed from the video footage on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News

[Chris from Nailsea]

With thanks to forum members who have updated this topic, I've now amended its heading to cover this latest development.

[GBM]

Thanks Chris. 
Seemed a shame to start a new thread when there was already one underway-even tho' the one underway was a different date & location!
 

[RichardB]

What desperately sad news.  Shocking that someone thinks this is a good thing to do.

[bobm]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Double decker bus catches fire in Marlborough, Wiltshire


The rear of the double decker was engulfed by flames while on Marlborough High Street

Passengers fled from a double decker bus after it caught fire in Wiltshire.

The blaze was spotted when the bus was in High Street, Marlborough, at about 08:30 BST. Flames soon engulfed the rear of the vehicle.

A fire service spokesman said the driver had suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation but there had been no other injuries.

The High Street has been closed and Wiltshire Police said a diversion has been put in place.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Could have been worse - it could have happened in Longleat. 


(edited, very nervously, to fix quote - bobm)

[Timmer]

Could have been worse - it could have happened in Longleat. 

(edited, very nervously, to fix quote - bobm)

Yeah and those in the Points West region would have to watch the same story rerun over and over again a few days after. Was obviously a slow news week last week in the West country.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Passengers flee as bus gutted by fire near Caernarfon


One of the passengers said the bus was in flames within minutes but everyone got off safely

A bus company is investigating the cause of a fire which gutted one of its vehicles in Gwynedd.

About seven passengers and the driver had to flee the bus when it caught fire between Y Fron and Rhosgadfan, near Caernarfon, on Wednesday afternoon.

Nobody was injured - however the single-deck vehicle was completely destroyed by the blaze.

A spokesman for operators Express Motors said maintenance issues have already been ruled out as a cause.

Mother-of-two Lucy Price, 36, said she had been shopping in Caernarfon with a friend and was returning home when the fire started shortly before 15:00 BST.

"There were about seven passengers on the bus and the bus driver," she said. "We had just scaled a steep hill when the bus pulled over and it literally filled with black smoke within seconds. I was sitting on the back seat of the bus with my friend and we made our way safely to the front with everybody else and got off."


Peter Thornton captured images of the bus - and later discovered his daughter had been on it

"Within about five minutes the bus was full of flames and there was a big bang and the windows blew out."

Ms Price praised the bus driver who made sure his passengers were safe, but she said the incident could have been a lot worse and she had a lucky escape.

Unknown to Ms Price, her father Peter Thornton arrived at the scene while on his way to collect his grandson from school and took some photographs of the burning bus.

A spokesman for Express Motors in Caernarfon, said: "We are looking into this incident in great depth and we're concerned about what has happened. But it was not as dramatic as some media reports are suggesting.

"We have great concern for our passengers and staff and the good name of our company. We pride ourselves on our service. The company has been operating for nearly 40 years under the present management.

"We do know the fire is not down to a poorly maintained vehicle. Our driver at the scene dealt with the incident in a prompt and professional manner and made sure the passengers got safely off the bus."


Express Motors said the fire was not down to a poorly maintained vehicle

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

School coach catches fire in Ashcott


The coach caught fire in Ashcott near Street

A school coach with about 40 children on board has caught fire in a Somerset village.

The coach was destroyed in the incident on the A39 in Ashcott, but all of the children got off safely.

The driver saw fire coming from the dashboard just before 08:30 BST and tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher.

Devon and Somerset fire service was called, and properties were evacuated, but everyone has now returned home.

The road is expected to be closed until about 11:30 BST while the vehicle is recovered. Power lines will also need to be checked for damage.

[JayMac]

Shouldn't laugh, and glad there were no injuries, but 'fire coming from the dashboard' reminded me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfiIiQfMPT4

 

[LiskeardRich]

Shouldn't laugh, and glad there were no injuries, but 'fire coming from the dashboard' reminded me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfiIiQfMPT4

 

I can't follow the link on my current device, but by any chance is it The Jolly Boys Outing episode of Only Fools and Horses?

[JayMac]

But of course! 

[ChrisB]

Hmm - Metro has the story with half a dozen pupils onboard