On June 24, 2026, a fire destroyed an electric double-decker bus at a depot in Westbourne Park, West London. The cause of the fire was initially unclear, though the London Fire Brigade investigated the incident. The fire affected a sensitive area containing charging infrastructure; the flames also destroyed two electric vehicle charging points. Emergency services reported no injuries, while Westbourne Park station remained closed for a time.
Double-decker bus fire hits London’s electric bus rollout
Fire crews responded with four fire engines and around 25 personnel. Teams from North Kensington and Paddington handled the operation, with crews remaining on site into the evening. Incident commanders brought the fire under control in less than an hour, preventing it from spreading to larger sections of the depot.
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The destroyed bus was part of London’s red public transport fleet, though it was parked in the depot at the time of the fire. According to local reports, it was a Route 23 bus—a line connecting Westbourne Park with Aldwych. Consequently, the loss affected not just a single vehicle, but a depot within the active public transport network.
Charging points heighten the significance of the incident
The destruction of charging points makes this fire particularly significant. A depot concentrates buses, batteries, chargers, and high-capacity electrical infrastructure in one location. As a result, a fire there can have more serious consequences than a vehicle fire on the open road. However, a technical investigation is required to determine exactly where the fire started.
London has been significantly expanding its zero-emission bus fleet for years. In mid-June, Transport for London reported more than 3,000 zero-emission buses operating on the capital’s streets—representing roughly one-third of the total fleet. The number of such vehicles has risen sharply since 2016. The burnt-out double-decker therefore highlights the growing importance of fire safety in charging depots.
Previous fires provide important comparative data
In an earlier statement, Transport for London (TfL) cited five fires involving electric buses between January 2020 and early 2024. In only one confirmed instance did the fire involve lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, TfL recorded no cases of thermal runaway occurring without an actual fire. While these figures do not suggest a systemic risk, depot fires necessitate a precise determination of the cause.
The fire also occurred on an exceptionally hot day in the UK. On June 24, the Met Office recorded a provisional temperature of 36.1 degrees Celsius in Gosport, marking a new record high for June in the country. No direct link to the burning double-decker bus has been established. Nevertheless, the incident highlights the need to examine risks associated with charging operations, high temperatures, and the dense parking of electric vehicle fleets.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: London Fire Brigade (24.06.26) – Reuters (26.06.26) – The Telegraph (25.06.26) – The Standard (25.06.26)