Bus bursts into flames on village route near Measham
A bus burst into flames just over the Leicestershire[1] border yesterday. The blaze caused police and fire officials to close a main road while the response took place. The fire broke out shortly before 9am on Thursday morning (October 26) when a bus travelling on the A444 burst into flames.
The fire happened on Burton Road in Overseal, near Measham and Ashby, and close to the border with Leicestershire, reports StaffordshireLive[2]. The fire to the single-decker bus prompted the closure of the A444, with drivers urged to stay away. The incident closed the road in both directions from Overseal’s Linton Heath to Woodville Road and caused a number of long delays for motorists.
In a statement, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had dispatched crews from Swadlincote Fire Station and Ashby Fire Station[4] to the scene. Highways officials were also called as were police. Images from the scene showed the ferocity of the fire[5], with the bus engulfed in flames.
Others reported seeing smoke coming from a lorry close to the scene as well. The two crews extinguished the flames some time later on Thursday morning. Due to the fire, crews said a “large quantity of oil” had been left on the A444.
Highways teams were at the scene to clear up the deposits.
No injuries were reported from the fire.
The A444 Burton Road reopened after 1pm.
References
- ^ Leicestershire (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ reports StaffordshireLive (www.staffordshire-live.co.uk)
- ^ Firefighters still battling hotspots after major fire at Belgrave Gate in Leicester City Centre (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Ashby Fire Station (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ ferocity of the fire (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)