A bus has been destroyed following a fire in Plymouth this afternoon, Thursday, January 16. Emergency services were called to the scene of a large vehicle fire on Budshead Road at around 2.10pm and a nearby building was evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze.
Firefighters found the back of the bus well alight when they began extinguishing the fire. A nearby building was evacuated as emergency crews worked. Thick plumes of smoke could also be seen over the city, with one witness saying it was visible from Saltash.
Another person has said: “There’s big plumes of smoke in Ernesettle – near Agaton House. Top of Budshead Road is closed.”
A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 2.09.pm today, we received multiple calls reporting a coach on fire on Budshead Road in Plymouth. Two appliances and a water bowser from Plympton, Camels Head and Crownhill fire stations were dispatched.
“A nearby building was evacuated due to how close the fire was and a third appliance from Greenbank Fire Station was requested to assist.
“On arrival, the rear of the coach was well alight and crews set about extinguishing the fire using breathing apparatus and compressed air foam jets. The coach has been 80% damaged by fire and two nearby cars were also damaged by heat and fire.
“Crews are still on scene monitoring for hotspots and damping down.”
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A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police added: “Police were notified at around 2.10pm today to reports of a fire on a bus on Budshead Road in Plymouth.
“A road closure has been put on at Jubilee Road and Budshead Road while emergency services deal with the incident. No injuries have been reported.”