No injuries reported after private bus catches fire along BKE
A private bus caught fire along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) on Thursday (6 March), in what was the second vehicle fire that day.
Video clips circulated across social media, including on Facebook, showed the bus alight in the middle of the expressway.
Source: Farizatul Firdaus on Facebook
Fire appears to start from back of bus on BKE
Earlier, a clip uploaded on TikTok, ostensibly taken before the arrival of firefighters, showed flames licking out from the back of the bus.
Several passengers were evacuating calmly from the bus as smoke started filling the air.
Source: @vellaiyadevan1990paramu on TikTok
Later, a TikTok video taken at 6.17pm on Thursday (6 March) showed EMAS Recovery closing off the centre lane with traffic cones.
Source: @taxis.connect.group on TikTok
The fire appeared larger now, with part of the road also burning.
Firefighters seen spraying water as bus is consumed by flames
After the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) arrived, firefighters were seen spraying water onto the burning bus.
Source: Dominicka Portet on Facebook
At this point, flames had consumed the whole bus, spreading to its interior as well.
Source: Dominicka Portet on Facebook
Later, the charred bus stood smoking after the fire was put out.
Source: Farizatul Firdaus on Facebook
The vehicle appeared to be almost entirely burnt, with its windows shattered due to the blaze, leaving glass shards all over the road.
Source: Farizatul Firdaus on Facebook
Accident causes congestion, LTA advises motorists to avoid 4 lanes
The Land Transport Authority’s (LTA’s) traffic news account on X first posted about the incident at 6.18pm.
It said it had taken place on the BKE in the direction towards the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) after the Mandai Road exit, and advised motorists to avoid lanes 2 and 3.
Source: @LTAtrafficnews on X
Seconds later, LTA posted again, urging motorists to avoid lanes, 2, 3 and 4.
Then at 6.26pm, it said the accident had caused congestion till the Mandai Road exit.
Source: @LTAtrafficnews on X
Minutes later, motorists were advised to avoid a total of four lanes — 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Source: @LTAtrafficnews on X
A few more minutes later, another lane was affected, with LTA advising motorists to avoid lanes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Source: @LTAtrafficnews on X
By 6.37pm, the congestion had spread to the Seletar Expressway exit.
Source: @LTAtrafficnews on X
Motorists shared photos of the jam, with traffic appearing to be at a standstill.
Source: SGRoad Blocks / Traffic News on Telegram
12 people self-evacuated before SCDF arrived
In response to queries from MS News, SCDF said it was alerted to a vehicle fire at about 6.15pm on 6 March.
It took place along the BKE towards the PIE, before the Kranji Expressway (KJE) exit, and involved a single-deck passenger bus.
12 people — the bus driver and 11 passengers — had evacuated the bus before SCDF’s arrival, it added.
The fire was extinguished with three water jets, and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Second fire on the same day
The bus fire was the second reported fire on Thursday.
Earlier that day, a car caught along Tampines Street 31 at 7.20am, blocking off half the road.
There were no reports of injuries from the incident.
Also read: 2 cars engulfed by fire after multi-vehicle accident on PIE, no injuries reported
2 cars engulfed by fire after multi-vehicle accident on PIE, no injuries reported
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Featured image adapted from Farizatul Firdaus on Facebook and Dominicka Portet on Facebook.
