Double decker Stagecoach catches fire as driver performs emergency stop

Firefighters from Chichester and Bognor were called to reports of a bus on fire on St Pancras at 6.36am, a spokesman from the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said.

Smoke was seen billowing from the back of a Stagecoach bus resulting in the bus driver doing an emergency stop.

Upon arrival, firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly extinguished the fire using one hose reel.

Crews used a thermal imaging camera to ensure there were no further hotspots, before leaving the scene.

The spokesman said: ‘The fire is believed to have started accidentally, and fortunately there were no casualties as a result of this incident.’

A Chichester Fire Station spokesman said on Twitter: ‘Blue Watch Chichester were able to bring this large bus fire quickly under control this morning.

‘Thankfully nobody was injured and the road has been reopened enabling people to get to work.’

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: ‘One of our buses, which was not in service, was involved in an incident in Chichester this morning.

‘No passengers were on board and there were no injuries.

‘Safety is our absolute priority, and we are investigating the cause of the incident.’

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