An electric London bus caught fire at a depot in west London on Wednesday evening, coinciding with the hottest June day ever recorded in the United Kingdom. Temperatures reached 36.1C (97F) in Gosport, Hampshire, surpassing a record set 50 years ago.
Firefighters were called to the bus depot in Westbourne Park at approximately 6:23 p.m. to find a No. 23 electric bus engulfed in flames. Two electric vehicle charging points were also destroyed in the incident. Footage shared on social media depicted security personnel directing people to stay back as fire crews worked to control the blaze. Smoke from the fire was visible for miles.
Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters responded to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire within an hour, by 7:11 p.m. No injuries were reported. The London Fire Brigade stated that its Fire Investigation Team is looking into the cause of the fire.
The affected bus operated on the No. 23 route, which runs between Aldwych and Westbourne Park Bus Garage. The incident occurred as the UK experienced a severe heatwave, with the Met Office issuing a rare red weather warning for extreme heat. Temperatures exceeded 35C (95F) in several areas, including London. The red alert, covering a large swathe of England, was in effect until Thursday evening.
The extreme weather led to widespread disruption, including school closures and public transport warnings. The Met Office had forecast a possibility of temperatures nearing the all-time UK record of 40.3C, which was recorded in July 2022. This marks only the second time the Met Office has issued its highest level of alert for extreme heat.