PHOTOS shared by firefighters show the aftermath of a huge blaze in Essex as a single-decker bus went up in flames. Crews from South Woodham Ferrers, Rayleigh, Maldon, and Weeley fire stations flooded the scene near Moor Hall Lane in Bicknacre yesterday afternoon as a bus was fully alight. The firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire and protect surrounding areas, with Moor Hall Lane shut off by police during the incident. Thankfully, the quick-thinking bus driver ensured passengers were evacuated before the fire took hold. The blaze was extinguished within an hour, with the scene made safe by 1.02pm. First Bus has confirmed an investigation is underway into the root cause of the fire. A QUICK-thinking driver ensured passengers were evacuated before a bus went up in flames in Essex this afternoon. Firefighters rushed to the scene near Moor Hall Lane in Bicknacre at 12.03pm as a bus was engulfed in flames with thick black smoke billowing from the vehicle. The single-decker bus was found fully alight and passengers were already evacuated by the driver thanks to his quick actions and fire safety training. Moor Hall Lane was shut off by emergency services and the blaze was extinguished within an hour, with the scene made safe by 1.02pm. First Bus has since confirmed an investigation is now underway into the root cause of the blaze. Piers Marlow, managing director for First Bus Essex, said: “We can confirm our vehicle was involved in a fire in Bicknacre earlier this afternoon. “Our driver's quick thinking and fire safety training has meant that everyone was evacuated off the bus in a timely fashion before the fire took hold and has prevented any injuries. “The safety of our customers and colleagues is always our no 1 priority. “An investigation is now underway into the root cause of the incident and we are assisting the emergency services and thank them for their quick response.”

The Aftermath Images shared by Essex Fire and Rescue Service show the charred remains of the bus after the fire. The bus was completely destroyed, and firefighters were seen dampening hotspots at the scene to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.

The Cause of the Fire First Bus has confirmed that an investigation is underway into the root cause of the fire. A spokesperson for the company stated that the investigation is ongoing and more details will be released as soon as they are available.

Safety First The quick actions of the bus driver in evacuating all passengers before the fire took hold have been praised by First Bus. The company highlighted the importance of fire safety training for its drivers, emphasizing that it is a priority to ensure the safety of its customers and colleagues. The incident is a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety on public transport. First Bus, like many transport operators, has strict protocols and training in place to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers. However, this incident demonstrates the importance of staying vigilant and being prepared for emergencies.

A Community Response The fire incident in Bicknacre has drawn a response from the local community, with many expressing concern for the safety of the passengers involved. There have been calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident is also a reminder of the importance of emergency services in responding to such events quickly and effectively. The quick response of firefighters and police ensured the safety of everyone involved and prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding areas.

What's Next While the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the incident has raised important questions about safety on public transport and the role of emergency services in such situations. The community in Bicknacre is left to reflect on the event and hope that lessons can be learned to prevent similar incidents in the future.