PASSENGERS were safely evacuated after a Keresley bus caught fire for the second time in a year.
The single decker bus burst into flames on Sunday afternoon in Bennetts Road, Keresley, Coventry.
Following a swift evacuation executed by the National Express bus driver, fire crews from Foleshill were called to tackle the blaze.
Sam Drabble, a West Midlands Fire Service member, said powerful jets were used to extinguish the aggressive fire.
He said only the engine will be salvaged and images released since show the rest of the bus’ frame severely damaged.
He praised the driver’s ‘quick thinking’ who was able to get everyone off the bus quickly and safely.
This is the second bus fire in Keresley in the last year with another National Express bus catching fire in November prompting fears about the safety of the area’s buses.
National Express said last year the fire was caused by mechanical malfunction in the bus engine bay.
A local resident named Mark Myatt who lives on Bennetts Road said of yesterday’s incident: “How many of these same buses have to catch fire for the authorities to take them of the streets in Coventry. Keeps happening. Good old fire brigade got there quickly.”
A National Express Coventry spokesperson said: “On May 20 at 1410, a National Express Coventry single decker bus caught fire on Bennetts Road.
“Nobody was hurt. The driver swiftly evacuated all customers from the vehicle and contacted the fire service.
“We are doing a thorough investigation into the cause of this fire.
“We’d like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience.”
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