Passengers make lucky escape after bus catches fire in Co Carlow

Sarah Slater

Passengers had to be evacuated from a bus in Co Carlow on Friday evening after it caught fire.

The fire, which broke out shortly before 6pm at Glynn Crossroads, prompted an emergency response.

The fire on board a Wexford bus caused major disruption along the N80 just outside the village of Ballon.

All passengers were able to safely disembark the bus before the situation escalated. No injuries were reported.

The vehicle, operated by a private coach company, safely pulled over to the side of the road and passengers evacuated just before the fire took hold.

Video footage emerged online showing the fire breaking out towards the rear, rapidly spreading as the driver pulled over and passengers evacuated. By the time emergency services arrived, the bus was completely ablaze and empty.

Fire crews managed to extinguish the flames, but not before the vehicle was entirely destroyed.

The charred frame now remains at the roadside as cleanup and investigation work continues.

The road was temporarily blocked, and diversions were put in by emergency services and gardaí.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Wexford Bus said that "On Friday evening, 4th July, a fire broke out on a coach travelling from Carlow to Wexford on the N80 between Carlow and Ballon.

"The driver evacuated all passengers safely from the vehicle and nobody was injured in the incident.

"All safety protocols were followed. The vehicle involved was a modern coach with all necessary warning systems on board, thus ensuring the driver had time to safely stop the coach and evacuate the passengers. The emergency services were immediately called and nobody was injured."

"No cause for the fire has been determined but a full investigation is being undertaken."

Witnesses reported seeing flames and thick black smoke billowing from the vehicle as emergency crews arrived on the scene.