Rats blamed for coach firm inferno (From Daily Echo)
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Rats blamed for coach firm inferno
12:53pm Tuesday 1st January 2013 in News
Rats blamed for coach firm inferno
RATS could have been behind a fire that ended up engulfing six vehicles.
Fire investigators have concluded that the most likely cause of the fire that gutted three coaches and three minibuses at an operations centre in Hedge End was a spark from an electrical fault.
But a fire service spokesman added that investigators believe this could have been as the result of “possible rodent interference”, meaning that mice or rats might have chewed through wires.
“It’s not unheard of – certainly rodents and animals chewing through things have caused us issues in the past,” said the spokesman. “For it to have caused this much devastation, they have been pretty unlucky.”
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze, which involved vehicles belonging to South-ampton-based coach hire company Barfoot and Sons, at around 5.45pm on Saturday at the operations centre for trucks, buses and coaches off Upper Northam Drive.
Residents described seeing flames reach 40ft high and hearing explosions as the fire spread from one vehicle to the next.
Firefighters spent four hours tacking the fire and investigators concluded it was accidental and there were no suspicious circumstances.
The six destroyed vehicles make up more than half of the company’s 11-strong fleet.
Steve Barfoot, director of the small family coach and minibus hire firm, said he was very surprised to hear that might be the cause.
“If that’s the cause I would be quite frustrated that such a small animal caused so much damage and devastation.”
He confirmed that the damage would certainly cost tens of thousands of pounds though could not estimate a figure and expected to speak to his insurance company later in the week.
Mr Barfoot reiterated that the company provides purely a private hire service and had no contracts with schools so would not be letting any schools or local authorities down.
He added that in the short term they could meet their commitments until decisions could be made about replacing the buses.
“Hopefully we’ll bounce back, I don’t see any reason why we can’t,” he said.
Comments(15)
Block41row0sfc
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1:15pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Dave Clements
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1:40pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Lockssmart
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2:06pm Tue 1 Jan 13
TEBOURBA
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2:28pm Tue 1 Jan 13
chunky_lover
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3:19pm Tue 1 Jan 13
IMAGOODGUY
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4:13pm Tue 1 Jan 13
derek james
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6:28pm Tue 1 Jan 13
IronLady2010
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7:54pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Diesel is hard to ignite, I always assumed?
Oh well, they know what they are talking about more than me.
richieroo
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8:23pm Tue 1 Jan 13
IronLady2010 wrote:The fire is caused by a spark from electrical wires shorting together once the rats have gnawed the insulation off of the copper wiring that forms the wiring loom of every vehicle. Some circuits are constantly live even if the ignition is off to preserve radio settings, clocks running & alarm systems etc etc. doesn't matter if it's a petrol or diesel vehicle as the fuel isn't the source of the fire. God only knows what rodents find so tasty in eating the insulation as they don't usually chew through the copper core.
I know Firemen are far superior to me when it comes to knowledge of how a fire starts, but would a fire really be started by a spark when the engines aren't running.
Diesel is hard to ignite, I always assumed?
Oh well, they know what they are talking about more than me.
IronLady2010
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8:28pm Tue 1 Jan 13
richieroo wrote:But what is flammable to start the main fire? OK we may have a spark or three, but what is flammable?
IronLady2010 wrote:The fire is caused by a spark from electrical wires shorting together once the rats have gnawed the insulation off of the copper wiring that forms the wiring loom of every vehicle. Some circuits are constantly live even if the ignition is off to preserve radio settings, clocks running & alarm systems etc etc. doesn't matter if it's a petrol or diesel vehicle as the fuel isn't the source of the fire. God only knows what rodents find so tasty in eating the insulation as they don't usually chew through the copper core.
I know Firemen are far superior to me when it comes to knowledge of how a fire starts, but would a fire really be started by a spark when the engines aren't running.
Diesel is hard to ignite, I always assumed?
Oh well, they know what they are talking about more than me.
Genuine question, I'm no expert, but always assumed something has to be flammable for a spark to start a fire.
richieroo
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8:58pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Or alternatively if the wires stay in contact for a longer period of time creating a short circuit with a greater electrical current than the wires affected are designed to carry the wiring will get overheated & melt the insulation off & cause a fire quite rapidly. I've seen wires short & glow as hot as your toaster elements do within seconds!
southy
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12:44pm Wed 2 Jan 13
IronLady2010 wrote:Do you know any thing about eletrical wiring on a motorise transport, 1 wire is to make the contection and the body is the earth, now days it a negitive earth.
richieroo wrote:But what is flammable to start the main fire? OK we may have a spark or three, but what is flammable?
IronLady2010 wrote:The fire is caused by a spark from electrical wires shorting together once the rats have gnawed the insulation off of the copper wiring that forms the wiring loom of every vehicle. Some circuits are constantly live even if the ignition is off to preserve radio settings, clocks running & alarm systems etc etc. doesn't matter if it's a petrol or diesel vehicle as the fuel isn't the source of the fire. God only knows what rodents find so tasty in eating the insulation as they don't usually chew through the copper core.
I know Firemen are far superior to me when it comes to knowledge of how a fire starts, but would a fire really be started by a spark when the engines aren't running.
Diesel is hard to ignite, I always assumed?
Oh well, they know what they are talking about more than me.
Genuine question, I'm no expert, but always assumed something has to be flammable for a spark to start a fire.
Nearly every every thing is flammable, right down to the paint work, even Aluminum will burn if it gets hot enough because this a certain amount of magnesium is mix in. ( a classic case of Aluminum on fire was HMS Sheffield )
sarfhamton
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1:29pm Wed 2 Jan 13
manimaul
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1:37pm Wed 2 Jan 13
nedscrumpo says...
12:57pm Tue 1 Jan 13