Dozens of double-decker buses were destroyed in a massive fire that swept through a bus storage yard. The incident occurred on Muckingford Road in Linford, Essex, just before 7pm last Friday, engulfing multiple parked vehicles. Firefighters rushed to the scene and found the blaze rapidly spreading among the buses, triggering a major emergency response.
Fire crews battled for hours to contain the fire, managing to bring it under control by 9pm. Around 36 buses were lost in the inferno, as confirmed by the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Station Manager Lee Hurst characterized the event as “significant and challenging,” praising the efforts of the firefighters, Essex Police, utility providers, and local farmers for their collaboration in controlling the fire.
After a thorough investigation, fire officials determined that the fire was intentionally set. Mr. Hurst urged anyone with information about the incident or suspicious activities in the area to contact FireStoppers anonymously. Essex Police also confirmed their presence at the scene and are treating the incident as suspected arson, working closely with the fire service to determine the cause.
Road closures were implemented during the emergency response but were lifted once the situation was contained. No arrests have been made yet, with detectives pursuing various leads. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to reach out to Essex Police through their online platform, live chat service, or by calling 101 and quoting incident 1206 of June 5.