Double-decker bus fire closes Eastleigh road and damages nearby homes

Firefighters were called at rush hour yesterday (01 July) evening to a blaze involving a double-decker bus on Southampton Road in Eastleigh.

At 17.31, Eastleigh, St Mary’s, Redbridge and Portchester crews were sent to the scene, finding smoke emanating from the vehicle upon their arrival.

Fortunately, there were no passengers and the driver was able to safely evacuate the bus, which was heading back to a nearby depot.

Working alongside Hampshire Police partners, the road was closed to allow HIWFRS to tackle the blaze.

The bus was completely destroyed in the fire which was extinguished using four sets of breathing apparatus, two hose reels and one jet.

Crews blocked nearby drains and used Environment Agency pads to clear up oil and fuel which had leaked from the bus.

HIWFRS requested the attendance of the electricity company due to the fire damaging a lamppost as well as overhead cabling.

Firefighters worked to dampen down the scene, before checking the nearby row of terraced houses, which had suffered heat and smoke damage to the soffits and facias of the five properties adjacent to the bus.

HIWFRS left the scene following the stop message which came in at 19:47.