Bus Driver Praised for Quick Thinking in Evacuating Passengers Before Double Decker Bus Erupts in Flames

The incident occurred on Saturday on the A4074 in Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire, resulting in the closure of the road while crews fought the blaze.

According to the fire service, the driver did an "excellent job of ensuring all passengers had been evacuated from the bus" before the incident escalated.

Thames Travel confirmed that there were no injuries on board the bus, which is part of its X40 service.

Incident commander Christian Orr said that the diesel tank of the bus had also split during the incident, adding to the complexity of the situation.

"This was a difficult incident to deal with, because as well as a severe fire, the diesel tank of the bus had split, so we needed to stop large quantities of diesel from entering the drains and causing possible environmental damage," Orr said.

The Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service added that when crews arrived, the double decker was "well alight" but they were able to bring it under control using two high pressure hose reels.

The bus company has launched an internal investigation into the cause of the incident and has attributed it to a "thermal incident." The spokesperson added that the company's vehicles undergo regular, extensive checks and maintenance, and incidents of this nature are "extremely rare." The incident caused significant traffic disruption in the area, and the BBC reported that the bus was seen on fire with flames coming from the top deck.

Passenger Elizabeth Williams told the BBC she was on the bus when the fire started.

"The driver was very calm and he got us all off the bus very quickly," she said.

Overall, the quick actions of the bus driver and the prompt response of the emergency services prevented any injuries or further damage.