Bus burst into flames in South London

By Edward Era Barbacena

A bus burst into flames on a busy London street on Friday morning, causing the driver and passengers to flee.

Firefighters were called to the scene on Brixton Hill shortly before 10am on Friday morning.

Witnesses told Yahoo News UK that drivers beeped their horns at the driver, who hadn't realised smoke was pouring out of the vehicle

The driver then stopped and everyone aboard was able to leave the bus, and no injuries have been reported.

The cause of the fire is so far unclear, London Fire Brigade said.

Ayesha Chaudry, who works in a Sainsbury's Local opposite where the fire broke out, told Yahoo News UK: "First there was smoke coming out the back and then fire started coming out.

"Cars were hooting because there was smoke coming out, and [the bus] stopped here and the people came out.

"It looked dangerous because there was a really big fire coming out."

Tess McCarthy, who works in a solicitor's office close to the scene, said: "There was a lot of smoke outside I could hear a lot of shouting.

"I went out and had a look and there was a lot of smoke coming out the bus.

"It sort of popped and the fire started.

"There was quite a lot of popping noises, I guess from things falling off the bus. It was just the back of it.

"I didn't see much after, lots of smoke started and the fire brigade got here really quickly." 

She said she noticed something was wrong when she saw smoke in the top corner of the window of her office, and heard "shouting".

"Everyone seemed to be keeping a good distance from it really, because it was sort of worsening, and then the fire brigade came," she added.

Dramatic videos and pictures shared on social media showed the vehicle engulfed in flames, with plumes of smoke rising into the sky.

Pictures of the aftermath show the back of the bus burnt out with debris on the street.

A statement from London Fire Brigade said: "Firefighters were called to a bus alight on Brixton Hill.

"Part of a double decker bus was damaged by fire. The driver and passengers left the bus before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.

"The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took 19 calls to the blaze.

"The Brigade was called at 0950 and the fire was under control by 1022. One fire engine from Brixton Fire Station attended the scene."