Ambulance bursts into flames outside Newry hospital

by Chloe St John

An ambulance has been completely destroyed after bursting into flames outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

It happened at approximately 9.02 this morning.

Ambulance on fire in newry this morning. pic.twitter.com/ez4jEzFlbD

— The opportunist (@Theopportunis10) 28 December 2018

(Video with thanks to @Theopportunis10) 

The fire was caused by an electrical fault in the engine. An oxygen cylinder was also involved.

Local councillor Charlie Casey heard the moment the flames erupted:

No crews or members of the public were injured in the incident.

The fire was extinguished by 9.39am.

An ambulance which burst into flames outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry this morning has been completely destroyed. The fire was caused by an electrical fault in the engine. pic.twitter.com/YC4k0wZlFG

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 28 December 2018

A spokesperson from NIFARS said:

"The cause of the fire was accidental, started by an electrical fault within the engine. "

"An oxygen cylinder inside the ambulance was involved in the fire."

" Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly contained and extinguished the fire."

The ambulance isn't owned by the NIAS, but by private company ProParamedics.

Their Director Heather-Hamill Vaughan spoke to Q Radio:

In a statement the company said:

"There was an incident this morning with one of our ambulances on fire at Daisy Hill Hospital, there were no patients on board at the time."

"Due to the rapid action of the crew the ambulance was placed to cause least damage and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service arrived on scene quickly and extinguished the fire."

"The important thing here is that no-one was hurt."

"The vehicle is being recovered and the incident will be fully investigated."

ProParamedics said: ‘There was an incident this morning with one of our ambulances on fire at Daisy Hill Hospital, there were no patients on board at the time’. ‘The important thing here is no-one was hurt’. pic.twitter.com/xFIw8IWqtX

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 28 December 2018

Local councillor Michael Savage spoke to Q Radio:

Local councillor Michael Savage has praised the quick action of emergency services after an ambulance caught fire outside Daisy Hill Hospital this morning. No-one was injured. pic.twitter.com/WCF4QaRre9

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 28 December 2018