Man Arrested Over Bus Depot Fire
15 March 2011, 12:17 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
At 18:42 on Saturday 12th March, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service received a 999 call about a serious fire in Monks Brook Industrial Park in Valley Park, Chandlers Ford.
A 32-year-old man from Fair Oak has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been bailed until May 18th while enquiries continue.
With two double-decker buses and a single-decker bus reported to be involved in the blaze, three fire crews were sent from Eastleigh Fire Station, who were joined at the scene by a crew from Romsey Fire Station and the Service's Incident Command Unit.
In total 20 firefighters tackled the incident and prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent two-storey building.
Due to the extensive use of foam to tackle the incident, all of the drains in the immediate vicinity were dammed and firefighters also used environmental packs to stop any potential run off into the drains and the nearby watercourse, Monks Brook.
The Incident Commander, Station Manager Chris George, said:
“The swift actions of our fire crews prevented this incident from becoming far more serious.
"There were three other buses that were driven off the site by fire service personnel to limit the damage, and there were also high-value vintage buses parked at the side of the building, which were protected by the fire crews and saved from the blaze.
“This fire was difficult to bring under control due to the way the vehicles were parked closely to each other and close to the building.
"There was also the added problem of the fuel being involved in the fire, which is why crews used firefighting foam.
"We would advise all premises owners to ensure that vehicles are parked a safe distance away from their buildings, with suitable distances between each vehicle to prevent potential fire spread.”
All three buses that were involved in the fire were severely damaged and a joint investigation will be carried out by Fire Investigation Officers and Hampshire Constabulary to establish the cause.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Eastleigh police station on 101 or report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.
