Dozens of double-decker buses were destroyed in a massive fire that swept through a bus storage facility. The incident occurred on Muckingford Road in Linford, Essex, just before 7 pm on Friday, with flames engulfing multiple parked vehicles. Firefighters arrived to find the blaze rapidly spreading among the buses, leading to a major emergency response.
Fire crews worked tirelessly to bring the fire under control, with the situation being scaled back by 9 pm. Around 36 buses were lost in the fire, as confirmed by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Station Manager Lee Hurst characterized the event as “significant and challenging,” praising the collaborative efforts of firefighters, Essex Police, utility providers, and local farmers in containing the fire and preventing further damage.
Following an investigation, officials determined that the fire was intentionally started. Mr. Hurst emphasized the need for any witnesses or individuals with information about the incident to come forward and contact FireStoppers anonymously. Essex Police also confirmed their involvement in the case, treating the situation as suspected arson.
While road closures were implemented during the emergency response, they were lifted after the conclusion of operations at the scene. Despite no arrests being made yet, detectives are actively pursuing various leads related to the incident. Individuals with information are encouraged to reach out to Essex Police online, via live chat, or by calling 101 and quoting the incident reference number 1206 from June 5.
