Traffic had to diverted as the smoke from the bus fire proved hazardous for drivers

21 passengers were evacuated from a bus travelling to Dundee last week after the engine caught fire.

The Stagecoach bus was travelling on its route between Kirriemuir and Dundee during the morning rush hour when the blaze broke out. The bus driver noticed smoke coming out of the rear of the vehicle, where the engine is located, and took the decision to pull over off the road and evacuate the vehicle. All 21 passengers got off the bus safely and no injuries were reported.

Once all of passenger had disembarked safely, the emergency services were called. Fire fighters responded to the call and upon arrival, found the vehicle to be well alight. The fire crews succeeded in putting out the blaze, parts of the bus were cut out and dampened down to ensure the fire couldn’t reignite.

Smoke billowing from the fire caused a problem for nearby motorists as driving visibility was impaired. The police were forced to divert traffic for approximately 30 minutes until the smoke and the fire had cleared.

It is believed that the fire was started by an electrical fault in the engine. Stagecoach say they are treating the incident very seriously and a full investigation is now under way into the fire.