A local community in Llanharry, South Wales, was left shaken after a bus burst into flames on a bustling road, leaving only a charred skeleton behind and causing damage to neighbouring gardens. The fire, which broke out just after 1pm on Monday, 28 April, quickly engulfed the entire vehicle, reducing it to little more than a husk within minutes and sparking alarm among nearby residents.
The incident unfolded on Llanharry Road, an area usually filled with residents going about their daily business. Eyewitness accounts and video footage that surfaced on social media indicated that the blaze began at the rear of the bus almost immediately after it pulled up at a stop. In moments, flames spread throughout the vehicle, creating thick black smoke that billowed into the sky and forced bystanders to retreat to a safe distance.
Residents recall hearing a series of loud popping and banging noises as the fire intensified. Emergency services responded rapidly, with crews from Pontyclun and Bridgend arriving at the scene to encounter the bus already engulfed by flames. Firefighters tackled the inferno using breathing apparatus and hose reel jets, eventually bringing the situation under control before it could escalate further.
One local resident, Andrew Osmand, whose house is situated adjacent to the bus stop where the fire erupted, described the shocking experience. “I was just in the living room, speaking on the phone,” he recounted. “I heard a couple of small bangs, and then a much louder one. When I went into my kitchen, all I could see out the window was thick black smoke.”
Andrew’s immediate concern was the safety of his home and those nearby. Realising the seriousness of the incident, he sprang into action. “When I looked outside, there was smoke everywhere, the flames were licking at my fence and my neighbour’s fence was already alight,” he continued. Initially unsure of the cause, Andrew contacted the fire brigade, only to be reassured that help was already en route.
The fire’s proximity was particularly alarming. “The bus stop is directly opposite my garden, so the end of my garden was right up against the worst of it,” Andrew explained. “The flames spread across the fence, caught my neighbour’s, and then quickly began consuming mine. About half of it is gone now.”
There was an unnerving sense of relief, as Andrew contemplated how a slight change in his routine could have led to more dire consequences. “I’d just come in from the garden – my next thought had been to go back out to do a bit of gardening. If I’d done that, I could have been caught up in it,” he added, reflecting on how lucky he felt to have delayed his outdoor chores for a phone call.
Praise has been widely given to the emergency crews for their swift and effective response. “They were incredibly quick, and managed to put out the fire in no time at all,” Andrew noted, expressing gratitude on behalf of the local community.
The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed details of their response, stating: “SWFRS received a call at approximately 13:11 to reports of a vehicle fire on Llanharry Road, Llanharry. Crews and appliances attended the scene of a well alight bus, the fire was extinguished using three breathing apparatus and three hose reel jets. The bus was destroyed by the fire and a nearby wooden fence was affected. The stop message was received around 13:49.”
Thankfully, there were no reported injuries during the incident, though the clean-up and repairs to property damage now lie ahead for residents. As investigations into the cause of the blaze continue, this unnerving event serves as a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary situations can escalate and the critical role of local emergency services in safeguarding the community.