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

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

A bendy bus has caught fire outside one of London's busiest railway stations.

Fire crews were called to deal with thick black smoke which was seen billowing from the vehicle on Terminus Place, opposite Victoria station, at about 0830 BST on Saturday.

All of those on board the bus escaped without injury.

Much of Terminus Place has been closed while investigations take place, although buses are stopping nearby. Victoria Tube station has now reopened.

The sub-surface Circle and District Lines had been prevented from stopping at the station while the fire was in progress.

Bendy buses, which were introduced in London in 2001, were temporarily taken out of service in 2005 when three of them caught fire.

They were only allowed back on the roads once special fire-suppression equipment had been fitted.

There was also a fire on another vehicle three years ago, with flames coming from its heating system.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Bendy bus fire at Victoria station 'could be arson'

Initial inspections on a bendy bus which caught fire outside a railway station suggest arson may have been to blame rather than a mechanical fault, Transport for London (TfL^» (Transport for London - about)) has said.

Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the number 73 in Terminus Place beside Victoria station in central London on Saturday morning.

Only the driver was on board and escaped without injury.

The emergency services and TfL have launched investigations.

The Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade said their inquiries were continuing.

The bus stops outside Victoria are now in operation again, having been closed while the fire was extinguished.

[JayMac]

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

Extensive damage was caused to a bus which was set on fire while it was travelling through Bristol city centre.

Police said several fires were lit on the number 73 bus, which travels from the north of the city, in the early hours of Friday.

Police now want to trace a man who got on the bus at Filton Avenue before getting off at Horsefair.

He is described as mid to late teens, slim build and was wearing an black Adidas top.

Officers have released CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) images of the man in a bid to trace him.



Nobody was injured in the incident

[JayMac]

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

Three buses have been destroyed in a suspected arson attack at a bus station in south Devon.

Fire crews were called to the station in Paignton at about 04:25 BST after reports of a loud explosion.

Two double-decker buses and one single-decker were destroyed at the site in Dartmouth Road, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Nearby roads were closed, and bus operator Stagecoach was working to get replacement vehicles, officers added.

The incident caused damage estimated at about ^120,000 and was being treated as suspected arson, police said.

Police and fire officers have begun a joint investigation into the cause.

The closed roads have since reopened, police said.

Stagecoach said the incident was unlikely to impact on bus services around Torbay.

[bobm]

Pictures at This is South Devon

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/buses-destroyed-120-000-arson-attack-Paignton/story-16616136-detail/story.html

[bobm]

Charges against a man accused of arson dropped - http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/pound-31-000-Paignton-bus-arson-charges-dropped/story-17100371-detail/story.html

ARSON charges against a man accused of setting fire to three buses in Paignton have been dropped.

Stephen Lee Bowstead, 23, had denied causing ^31,000 of damage to the Stagecoach vehicles on July 30.

More than 20 members of the public called the fire brigade when they saw the blaze lighting up the night sky as two double deckers and a single decker went up in flames.

Bowstead, of no fixed abode, was due to be committed to Exeter Crown Court to face the charges but when he appeared before magistrates in Torquay the case was dismissed.

However, he was convicted of setting fire to beach huts in Paignton on June 26 causing ^350 of damage.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of arson intending to cause damage and being reckless as to whether it was destroyed.

He was sent to jail for 60 days.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of arson which involved setting fire to beach huts.

"However, on reviewing the case against the defendant relating to allegedly setting fire to buses, the CPS had to discontinue the prosecution due to insufficient evidence.

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "The decision on whether or not to proceed with a case is a matter for the police and the CPS."

[Temple Meads]

Damn, I was hoping that someone would pay for that attack, one of the buses destroyed in the fire was the only bus I've ever really had a proper affinity with 

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Nine people fled the bus unhurt after it caught fire at Medbourne roundabout

A bus with nine people on board burst into flames at a Milton Keynes roundabout.

The driver and eight passengers were on board as smoke and flames poured from the engine. They were taken to safety as fire crews tackled the fire at the back of the single decker bus at Medbourne roundabout, Grange Farm.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said the interior of the bus was cut open to ensure the fire had not spread.

A spokesperson for the bus operator Arriva said: "At 13:26 on Monday, 7 January one of our buses was travelling along Fulmer Street when the driver was made aware by a passenger that they had seen smoke from the rear of the vehicle.

"The driver pulled over off the roundabout at a safe place and evacuated all passengers from the bus. He immediately called the fire brigade and also tried to attempt to use the fire extinguisher himself to put out the fire and keep it under control.

"The fire brigade attended the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. The fire was contained in and around the engine compartment.

"A spare bus was taken to the stop so passengers were able to continue with their journey. Nobody was injured as a result of the fire."

[Brucey]

Not to worry, they've got plenty of spare roundabouts in MK^▸ (Milton Keynes).

[anthony215]

This is the 3rd case in last few months that an optare solo has gone up in flames

[SandTEngineer]

.........mmm time then to withdraw all bus services, have a lengthly public enquiry, spend millions on lawyers.....and make the public walk in the meantime

[JayMac]

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

A fire at a bus depot in Cornwall has destroyed at least 37 buses - a third of bus firm Western Greyhound's fleet.

The fire in Summercourt, near Newquay, broke out at about 01:00 BST.

The blaze is expected to cause "significant disruption" to bus services in mid-Cornwall, including some school buses.

Its cause, which is not yet known, is being jointly investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

Police said the A3058 Newquay to St Austell Road would remain closed for most of the day.

Mark Howarth, Western Greyhound's managing director, told BBC Radio Cornwall: "A lot of hard work has gone into Western Greyhound and it's awful to see it going up in smoke.

"I could just see flames leaping in the air and when I arrived all the buses at the bottom of the yard were completely ablaze.

"The services will be significantly disrupted but we will run as much of them as we can."

Western Greyhound has been operating buses in Cornwall and Devon since 1998.

It describes itself as a "locally-based, family-run business."

Another news item from the West Briton including photos and videos:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Massive-Western-Greyhound-depot-Summercourt-near/story-18970433-detail/story.html#axzz2T9tSs1al

[LiskeardRich]

Sad to hear the devastation. Sadly nearly every other fire in such circumstances turn out to be Arson.

I think Western Greyhound were fairly lucky they store many of their buses out at outstations all round Cornwall which probably has saved them from losing more vehicles.

[Pb_devon]

what is slightly worrying, is that WG have a heritage fleet of 10, including 3 Routemasters.  I wonder if they have been lost?

[anthony215]

From what I have heard is that 4 out of 6 Mercedes-Benz Citaro's have been destroyed along with a number of double deckers.

Sadly there was one heritage vehicle on site which it seems could be one of the victims. Hopefully we will learn what caused this blaze and if it was arson the little buggers are caught and maybe their familys given a nice bill.

Anyway it could have been much worse as thank heavens Western Greyhound have other outstations so they havent lost their entire fleet of vehicles and credit where it is due other operators seem to have come to Western Greyhounds aid by loaning them vehicles and covering services