Passengers had a lucky escape after a dramatic bus fire led to a major road closure in Merseyside this morning. The incident saw an Arriva single-decker bus become fully engulfed in flames on a busy Aintree road.
Emergency Response to Blazing Bus
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were alerted to the bus fire on Ormskirk Road in Aintree at 11.55am today. Fire crews rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze by 12.15pm.
In a statement issued shortly after the incident, the fire service reported that the driver and all passengers had been accounted for and evacuated before the bus was fully alight. They confirmed that no injuries were sustained during the alarming event.
Major Traffic Disruption in Aintree
The fire led to significant travel chaos, with Ormskirk Road closed heading towards Switch Island for several hours. The road remained shut into the afternoon as emergency crews worked to recover the damaged vehicle.
Authorities urged motorists to avoid the area entirely while recovery operations were underway. Fire crews later worked to partially clear the scene to allow one lane of traffic to flow, but severe disruptions were reported throughout the day.
Operator Confirms Safe Evacuation
Arriva, the bus operator, swiftly responded to the incident. A company spokesperson stated: "I can confirm it is one of our buses and that everyone was evacuated safely, with no injuries reported."
The spokesperson added that the Merseyside Fire Service was leading the response to the incident. The cause of the fire is not yet known and investigations are likely to follow once the vehicle is recovered.
This breaking news story highlights the swift action of both the bus driver and emergency services, which ensured a potentially dangerous situation resulted in no harm to the public.
