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Fireball erupts as M3 coach burns
12:18pm Tuesday 29th July 2008
Comments (50)
A HAMPSHIRE firefighter was left with burns to his face and hands after being caught in a fireball which exploded from a burning coach.
The fireman was helping to tackle a blaze that had broken out in a coach travelling along the M27 west link road from the M3 when he was caught in the explosion.
The 32-seater coach's fuel tank ruptured, igniting the diesel inside it and sending a fireball out from under it.
The firefighter, from Eastleigh fire station, was caught in the conflagration, which caused motorists to run from their cars.
The injured man was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he was treated for burns, but was later discharged.
He was the only person hurt in the fire, which broke out shortly before 3.15pm and destroyed the coach. The plume of smoke was seen from several miles away and engulfed both carriageways of the motorway.
At one point it was feared a passenger may have been trapped in the coach's toilet but after searching the vehicle all passengers and the driver were accounted for.
Thousands of motorists were caught in long tailbacks after police were forced to close both carriageways of the M3 between junctions 13 and 14 near Eastleigh as well as the M27 west link road. Traffic backed up around 20 miles along the motorway as far as Basingstoke, and tailbacks lasted several hours.
One motorist said: "It was like an inferno. The fire had completely gutted the coach.
You could really feel the heat, so much so that I had to check my car for damage."
Fire crews from Eastleigh and Redbridge fire stations were called to the scene after a motorway camera spotted the coach in trouble.
Four pumps and a water carrier were used to fight the fire, as well as a multi-role vehicle carrying foam.
The coach was moved to the hard shoulder of the motorway and police reopened the northbound carriageway of the M3 shortly before 6pm.
Two lanes of the southbound carriageway remained shut between junctions 14 and 11 as investigations continued.
The cause of the fire was last night unknown, and a joint investigation by fire and police services has been launched.
Your Say YourThis is Hampshire
Daz, Southampton says...
5:43pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Sweety, Soton says...
5:52pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Bright Spark, Stubbington says...
6:04pm Mon 28 Jul 08
murph & rippon wrote:No-one cares who runs the CCTV.
"Fire crews from Eastleigh and Redbridge rushed to the scene just before 3.15pm after a police CCTV camera spotted the coach in trouble"
ECHO; please get your facts right before you start to print stories! The information was put through to the police control room via the Southampton City Council CCTV control room with cameras from the ROMANSE centre. Well done to the staff of ROMANSE for great work.
Pedant, says...
6:11pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Pete, Netley says...
6:22pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Stoddy, says...
6:32pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Pete wrote:Well the Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said 32-seater coach.
Fire Brigade spokesman on BBC Solent news at 6pm said it was a 56 seat coach. Echo must try harder!
Bearing in mind there is no such service as the "Fire Brigade" any more, I think I'll take your comment with a pinch of salt.
White Line, Space says...
6:38pm Mon 28 Jul 08
ECHO; please get your facts right before you start to print stories! The information was put through to the police control room via the Southampton City Council CCTV control room with cameras from the ROMANSE centre. Well done to the staff of ROMANSE for great work.
Hahaha, that is so planted by somebody/knows somebody who works at ROMANSE. Besides, it's a coach fire on a busy motorway. Thankfully the people watching the cameras notcied it because the hundreds of motorists passing the scene may have missed it!
All roads are open now, apart from the link to Chilworth roundabout from the M27 eatbound link.
Major drama over.
Grumpy, Fareham says...
7:10pm Mon 28 Jul 08
deb havard, 038-953 says...
7:38pm Mon 28 Jul 08
baggy faced berk!, southampton says...
7:49pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Firemen/women/tranny
's and girlyboys miss fete to attend this months real incident!
Al Gore, says...
7:50pm Mon 28 Jul 08
deb havard wrote:What she said - or tried to say.
its shows how hot is that a coach suddenly cathes fire. and its globel warming gone mad its even mellting the roads .. lets hope not there is too many dead people and that the weather cools. and they put the fire out .
Light Switch, The Wall says...
7:51pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Grumpy wrote:With knowledge like that you should report for the Echo!
I think ROMANSE did a brilliant job myself. They were showing 'debris on the carriageway' yesterday afternoon when nothing was there. Did they have a premonition?
The motorway signs are set by the Highways Agency based in Godstone. Only the signs on Southampton's urban roads are set by ROMANSE.
H. Omo, says...
7:51pm Mon 28 Jul 08
bored of critics, says...
7:56pm Mon 28 Jul 08
baggy faced berk! wrote:Ah, right. So presumably you'd prefer if the fire brigade took a more proactive approach to finding "real" work to do, and drove around setting houses on fire, then turning up to save the day. Cool.
why not run with the real headline?
Firemen/women/tranny
's and girlyboys miss fete to attend this months real incident!
On a completely unrelated note: what's your home address, and do you live in a thatched cottage?
YogiBear, on the road says...
8:30pm Mon 28 Jul 08
White Line wrote:Relying on the countless passing motorists is all well and good, but that assumes that the travelling public know where they are. Most motorway drivers are not even sure which road they're on, let alone the correct carriageway, slip road or even direction! And just a little note to what appear to be the "anti fire brigade, brigade", your may wish to know that the people dealing with coach were the same people as were out dealing with 3 derelict buildings at 4am this morning, having also been and done a days work inbetween - what did you do at work today?!
ECHO; please get your facts right before you start to print stories! The information was put through to the police control room via the Southampton City Council CCTV control room with cameras from the ROMANSE centre. Well done to the staff of ROMANSE for great work.Hahaha, that is so planted by somebody/knows somebody who works at ROMANSE. Besides, it's a coach fire on a busy motorway. Thankfully the people watching the cameras notcied it because the hundreds of motorists passing the scene may have missed it! All roads are open now, apart from the link to Chilworth roundabout from the M27 eatbound link. Major drama over.
Son Of Merface, Eastleigh says...
8:41pm Mon 28 Jul 08
baggy faced berk!, southampton says...
8:47pm Mon 28 Jul 08
bored of critics wrote:ooh get you!
baggy faced berk! wrote: why not run with the real headline? Firemen/women/tranny \'s and girlyboys miss fete to attend this months real incident!Ah, right. So presumably you\'d prefer if the fire brigade took a more proactive approach to finding \"real\" work to do, and drove around setting houses on fire, then turning up to save the day. Cool. On a completely unrelated note: what\'s your home address, and do you live in a thatched cottage?
I know, i'll be sorry when i need them?
hero's one and all!
bored of critics, says...
9:01pm Mon 28 Jul 08
baggy faced berk! wrote:Almost. You seemed to miss my point a smidgeon, but since you seem to think that the fire service is unnecessary, I don't think we need to worry too much what you think
bored of critics wrote:ooh get you!
baggy faced berk! wrote: why not run with the real headline? Firemen/women/tranny \'s and girlyboys miss fete to attend this months real incident!Ah, right. So presumably you\'d prefer if the fire brigade took a more proactive approach to finding \"real\" work to do, and drove around setting houses on fire, then turning up to save the day. Cool. On a completely unrelated note: what\'s your home address, and do you live in a thatched cottage?
I know, i'll be sorry when i need them?
hero's one and all!
You won't be sorry when you need them, you'll be grateful
Bright Spark, Stub says...
9:08pm Mon 28 Jul 08
... Good England that. (Not)
baggy faced berk!, southampton says...
9:14pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Not even "almost", just people doing a job just like the rest of us!
Why would i ever be grateful for needing the fire service? I'd be sorry for wanting them? think about it if you can for a mo.
at no point have i said they are unnecessary, but they are a service that are wrongly seen as hero's when many people are doing worthwhile jobs that go un-noticed. not least the Police and paramedics. they work all day long but don't get the plaudits the fire service do for the rare 'big' job they get called too.
as ever someone jumps in too soon without thinking first!
gorf, soton says...
9:51pm Mon 28 Jul 08
does my head in people plodding along at 60 in the outside lanes when im trying to cruise at 110
Jeanette Unwin, Eastleigh says...
11:15pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat says...
11:43pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Jeanette Unwin wrote:These loosers spend half there shift asleep.
I am a fire fighters mother and I know for a fact that they were up at 4am this morning dealing with multiple flat fires, my son then had to do a full days work, starting at 5.30am and finsihing at 15.00 only to be called on his way home to attend this incident, they couLd see the coach but unfortunately due to the caller not knowing the exact location on the motorway, they had trouble getting to the incident, bearing in mind the traffic at that time of day is bad anyway. So all things considered I feel that the fire service do an excellant job, and just for the record would love to see you do a 18 and a half hour day with no rest and still have to be at work at 0600 in the morning. NOW WHO IS A ****!!!!!!
And the other half complaining about wages.
GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF DORIS....
PS NOW GO AND HAVE A GLASS OF WARM MILK NITE NITE :-)
bored of critics, says...
12:02am Tue 29 Jul 08
baggy faced berk! wrote:I understand what you're saying. You're straying from the point, setting up a nice little straw man to shoot down. Not gonna work
"bored of critics"
Not even "almost", just people doing a job just like the rest of us!
Why would i ever be grateful for needing the fire service? I'd be sorry for wanting them? think about it if you can for a mo.
at no point have i said they are unnecessary, but they are a service that are wrongly seen as hero's when many people are doing worthwhile jobs that go un-noticed. not least the Police and paramedics. they work all day long but don't get the plaudits the fire service do for the rare 'big' job they get called too.
as ever someone jumps in too soon without thinking first!
You implied that they did virtually no work, to which I countered that there are only so many fires to be put out.
Riddle me this, batman: why are so many of the people on here unable to express a point of view, or disagree with someone, without insulting them? I thought before posting, despite what you've decided to believe. I wonder what you get out of trying to belittle people like that. A stiffie, perhaps?
Mike Okslonger, chapel says...
4:52am Tue 29 Jul 08
murph & rippon wrote:Are MURPH and RIPPON a Couple????
"Fire crews from Eastleigh and Redbridge rushed to the scene just before 3.15pm after a police CCTV camera spotted the coach in trouble" ECHO; please get your facts right before you start to print stories! The information was put through to the police control room via the Southampton City Council CCTV control room with cameras from the ROMANSE centre. Well done to the staff of ROMANSE for great work.
Who the hell writes a joint message on here!!
Does it really matter who found the Coach. It sounds like you two are just a go between any how.
Hugh G. Wrection and Heywood Jablome, says...
5:04am Tue 29 Jul 08
Mike Okslonger wrote:I bet they are not go betweens. I bet the only thing that goes between them is vaseline.
murph & rippon wrote: \"Fire crews from Eastleigh and Redbridge rushed to the scene just before 3.15pm after a police CCTV camera spotted the coach in trouble\" ECHO; please get your facts right before you start to print stories! The information was put through to the police control room via the Southampton City Council CCTV control room with cameras from the ROMANSE centre. Well done to the staff of ROMANSE for great work.Are MURPH and RIPPON a Couple???? Who the hell writes a joint message on here!! Does it really matter who found the Coach. It sounds like you two are just a go between any how.
Blimey!! those long, long HARD shifts. I bet they spend most of their time off sick with hernias and bad backs!!!!!!
Anonymous, eastleigh says...
9:01am Tue 29 Jul 08
Trouble wrote:so you think we are all lazy and get payed to much,what would you rather us be doing on shift?? and as for us not getting payed enough (in our opinion), we put our lives on the line every time our pagers go off, firefighters get injured and die in there job,but are still prepered to do it, we risk it all for a total stranger, 'were lazy'?? when your house is on fire and your stuck inside you going to call us lazy then?? when we turnup at 0400 in the morning and do all we can to try and save your life?? i fell you have no idea about what you are talking about, go and do your office job or what ever it is you do and leave the hard stuff to the professionals.
Lowe and Behold wrote:Re Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat : Look t**thead why don\\\'t you read what the Mother has written ?....her son went out on calls at 4AM...he then went to his full time job & did a job like you & I (if infact you do work as you can\\\'t read)then when he finished his full time work (Full shift)was then called away to this coach fire then is still working (for the Fire & Rescue service) 18.5 hours later & then getting up at 0600 to do his Full time work & I assume IF YOU READ that he could even be back out again before his 0600 FULL TIME work starts.Jeanette Unwin wrote: I am a fire fighters mother and I know for a fact that they were up at 4am this morning dealing with multiple flat fires, my son then had to do a full days work, starting at 5.30am and finsihing at 15.00 only to be called on his way home to attend this incident, they couLd see the coach but unfortunately due to the caller not knowing the exact location on the motorway, they had trouble getting to the incident, bearing in mind the traffic at that time of day is bad anyway. So all things considered I feel that the fire service do an excellant job, and just for the record would love to see you do a 18 and a half hour day with no rest and still have to be at work at 0600 in the morning. NOW WHO IS A ****!!!!!!These loosers spend half there shift asleep. And the other half complaining about wages. GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF DORIS.... PS NOW GO AND HAVE A GLASS OF WARM MILK NITE NITE :-)
Stop Moaning, Soton says...
9:21am Tue 29 Jul 08
Anonymous wrote:Stop Moaning! Its what you get paid for! You knew what the pay and conditions were like when you joined up. You get the odd 'big job' and then go on strike for more money!
Trouble wrote:so you think we are all lazy and get payed to much,what would you rather us be doing on shift?? and as for us not getting payed enough (in our opinion), we put our lives on the line every time our pagers go off, firefighters get injured and die in there job,but are still prepered to do it, we risk it all for a total stranger, 'were lazy'?? when your house is on fire and your stuck inside you going to call us lazy then?? when we turnup at 0400 in the morning and do all we can to try and save your life?? i fell you have no idea about what you are talking about, go and do your office job or what ever it is you do and leave the hard stuff to the professionals.Lowe and Behold wrote:Re Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat : Look t**thead why don\\\'t you read what the Mother has written ?....her son went out on calls at 4AM...he then went to his full time job & did a job like you & I (if infact you do work as you can\\\'t read)then when he finished his full time work (Full shift)was then called away to this coach fire then is still working (for the Fire & Rescue service) 18.5 hours later & then getting up at 0600 to do his Full time work & I assume IF YOU READ that he could even be back out again before his 0600 FULL TIME work starts.Jeanette Unwin wrote: I am a fire fighters mother and I know for a fact that they were up at 4am this morning dealing with multiple flat fires, my son then had to do a full days work, starting at 5.30am and finsihing at 15.00 only to be called on his way home to attend this incident, they couLd see the coach but unfortunately due to the caller not knowing the exact location on the motorway, they had trouble getting to the incident, bearing in mind the traffic at that time of day is bad anyway. So all things considered I feel that the fire service do an excellant job, and just for the record would love to see you do a 18 and a half hour day with no rest and still have to be at work at 0600 in the morning. NOW WHO IS A ****!!!!!!These loosers spend half there shift asleep. And the other half complaining about wages. GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF DORIS.... PS NOW GO AND HAVE A GLASS OF WARM MILK NITE NITE :-)
I know a fire fighter who when he works his night shift if they don't get a shout he sleeps all night then does a days work fitting kitchens etc. A lot of fire fighters do this and earn a fortune in the process!
Stop Moaning!, Soton says...
9:22am Tue 29 Jul 08
Mike, Southampton says...
9:27am Tue 29 Jul 08
Huge sigh - what next?, Chandlers Ford says...
9:28am Tue 29 Jul 08
Son Of Merface wrote:Hmm... what an excellent use of manpower! NOT
I have to congratulate Hampshire Police. While Eastleigh and the surrounding areas were totally gridlocked they set up a speed trap with 3 motorway patrol cars along Southampton Road near the airport. That was really helpful. No really, thanks a bunch.
This is about the only interesting comment really. All the others are by silly little geeks that seem to hate firemen.
I think the fireservice do a great job. The police do too, most of the time.
David Oaten, says...
10:26am Tue 29 Jul 08
Dave, Southampton says...
10:32am Tue 29 Jul 08
the vengeful cabbage, says...
10:34am Tue 29 Jul 08
Dave wrote:If you tell them you are prgnant then their hat would be an obvious place!
Drink lots of water whilst stuck in a traffic jam? Don't they know that what goes in must come out? Where are we supposed to relieve ourselves?
Mike, Soton says...
10:41am Tue 29 Jul 08
Dave wrote:And where do they think we would get the water from whilst stuck in a jam?! Do these people have any commonsense?
Drink lots of water whilst stuck in a traffic jam? Don't they know that what goes in must come out? Where are we supposed to relieve ourselves?
the vengeful cabbage, says...
10:50am Tue 29 Jul 08
Mike wrote:If its a sunny day pee in a bottle then set up a solar still on your dashboard. That way you take care of both your problems with one solution.
Dave wrote: Drink lots of water whilst stuck in a traffic jam? Don't they know that what goes in must come out? Where are we supposed to relieve ourselves?And where do they think we would get the water from whilst stuck in a jam?! Do these people have any commonsense?
Dave, Southampton says...
11:05am Tue 29 Jul 08
the vengeful cabbage wrote:Sigh... and where do we get the bottle from?
Mike wrote:If its a sunny day pee in a bottle then set up a solar still on your dashboard. That way you take care of both your problems with one solution.Dave wrote: Drink lots of water whilst stuck in a traffic jam? Don't they know that what goes in must come out? Where are we supposed to relieve ourselves?And where do they think we would get the water from whilst stuck in a jam?! Do these people have any commonsense?
the vengeful cabbage, says...
11:15am Tue 29 Jul 08
Dave wrote:Might have one on the floor of your car. If not try asking the driver of the mintyist looking car in the vicinity. Don't worry about the hygene as your will be drinking your own wee anyway!
the vengeful cabbage wrote:Sigh... and where do we get the bottle from?Mike wrote:If its a sunny day pee in a bottle then set up a solar still on your dashboard. That way you take care of both your problems with one solution.Dave wrote: Drink lots of water whilst stuck in a traffic jam? Don't they know that what goes in must come out? Where are we supposed to relieve ourselves?And where do they think we would get the water from whilst stuck in a jam?! Do these people have any commonsense?
jeanette unwin, Eastleigh says...
12:49pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Trouble, says...
2:20pm Tue 29 Jul 08
jeanette unwin wrote:absolutely couldn't agree more.........& if they care to read the main news today on the Echo website they will see what your original comments were about where your son went out at 0400 yesterday.......t**t
I am shocked and discusted to see the commeents that followed mine last night with regards to how hard the fire service do or dont work, I suggest that you keep your negative comments to yourself because unless you are actually involved in any way regarding the fire service you do not know anything about what goes on and how hard they all have to work, I just hope for your sake that there does not come a day when you actually have to lower yourself and call them because I myslef would feel pretty **** if I were you about what you are saying, I suggest your re-think and apologise for the pathetic comments you have put on here
s booby trapping for Firefighters & all the time "Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat" sleeping safely or was he ?
Fractalised Apologiser, says...
2:22pm Tue 29 Jul 08
jeanette unwin wrote:Whilst I agree with you in principle you are obviously ignorant of how an unmoderated, non-subscription internet forum works.
I am shocked and discusted to see the commeents that followed mine last night with regards to how hard the fire service do or dont work, I suggest that you keep your negative comments to yourself because unless you are actually involved in any way regarding the fire service you do not know anything about what goes on and how hard they all have to work, I just hope for your sake that there does not come a day when you actually have to lower yourself and call them because I myslef would feel pretty **** if I were you about what you are saying, I suggest your re-think and apologise for the pathetic comments you have put on here
This place is full of people who cruise through here at work/college etc looking for a quick laugh for five minutes before returning to work. If you give them anything that looks like bait they will take it, and mock it, and play games with it. It's a form of entertainment. This is there place, not yours, so please don't get offended. Most of them don't mean it, they're just having a laugh.
Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat says...
3:39pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Trouble wrote:I enjoyed my sleep thanks for asking.
jeanette unwin wrote: I am shocked and discusted to see the commeents that followed mine last night with regards to how hard the fire service do or dont work, I suggest that you keep your negative comments to yourself because unless you are actually involved in any way regarding the fire service you do not know anything about what goes on and how hard they all have to work, I just hope for your sake that there does not come a day when you actually have to lower yourself and call them because I myslef would feel pretty **** if I were you about what you are saying, I suggest your re-think and apologise for the pathetic comments you have put on hereabsolutely couldn't agree more.........& if they care to read the main news today on the Echo website they will see what your original comments were about where your son went out at 0400 yesterday.......t**t s booby trapping for Firefighters & all the time "Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat" sleeping safely or was he ?
Unlike Doris worrying about her poor lad ahh MUMMYS LITTLE BOY.
Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat says...
4:22pm Tue 29 Jul 08
jeanette unwin, Eastleigh says...
4:24pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Lowe and Behold, St Marys hotseat says...
4:28pm Tue 29 Jul 08
jeanette unwin wrote:Your poor hard working lad will be home soon after a long hard days work. Make sure you have his T ready
Oh dear.......you really are a sad little person, no further comments from me..........you are starting to get personal and very very silly
Trouble, says...
4:38pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Trouble, says...
4:43pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Lowe and Behold wrote:She has probably been hard working all day herself & yes she may well have his tea on because she cares........Oh hang on a minute...he may well of been called out in his job as a Firefighter therefore he won't be home, so maybe she wont.
jeanette unwin wrote: Oh dear.......you really are a sad little person, no further comments from me..........you are starting to get personal and very very sillyYour poor hard working lad will be home soon after a long hard days work. Make sure you have his T ready
Think you need to get to care about someone other than yourself & then maybe you will understand the lady & her son.
Grumpy, over here says...
7:57pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Light Switch wrote:Tell someone who's interested about over paid telly watchers who can't get a real job
Grumpy wrote: I think ROMANSE did a brilliant job myself. They were showing 'debris on the carriageway' yesterday afternoon when nothing was there. Did they have a premonition?With knowledge like that you should report for the Echo! The motorway signs are set by the Highways Agency based in Godstone. Only the signs on Southampton's urban roads are set by ROMANSE.
Dave, Suffolk says...
9:40pm Fri 1 Aug 08
other/daughter/siste
r that hadn't lost their life in an horrific accident.
Get a grip, people could have died.
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murph & rippon, Southampton says...
5:43pm Mon 28 Jul 08
ECHO; please get your facts right before you start to print stories! The information was put through to the police control room via the Southampton City Council CCTV control room with cameras from the ROMANSE centre. Well done to the staff of ROMANSE for great work.