Youngs fire was arson
Destroyed coaches were being stored for spare parts, not part of active fleet
A depot fire at Youngs Coaches of Haddenham last week was a case of arson, B&CB has been told.
The two PCVs destroyed in the blaze were not active vehicles in the operator’s fleet, having been registered as off-road and used for spare parts for a number of years. No damage to the active fleet in the fire is reported.
Youngs Coaches Director, Edward Young, told B&CB two youngsters caused the fire. He said the parents of one of the children took their son to Youngs Coaches depot to admit to starting the blaze. Edward also reports the parents of the other culprit took the youngster to a police station to admit his responsibility.
It had previously been reported by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service that the cause of the fire was accidental. This is now considered to not be the case.
One of the vehicles that caught fire was a Van Hool Astrobel, which was written off a number of years ago after catching fire while under the ownership of another operator. The other vehicle was a Duple Bedford. Both were being kept for spare parts, as well as being used as storage space, with Youngs having never operated the vehicles.
A trailer containing equipment and spare parts was also destroyed in the fire.
Edward Young reports six fire engines attended the blaze.
“We are all okay, just a bit shaken by it all because it was a frightening experience” – Edward Young
He said: “We are all okay, just a bit shaken by it all because it was a frightening experience. I was worried how far the fire could spread until the fire service got there.”
Aside from the depot fire, he reports the operation is doing well. Its latest fleet addition, a Volvo MCV eVoTor it bought last year, is performing well, leading to another being ordered and expected for delivery in April 2025. It is thought it could be the first 57-seat variant of this model to go into service when it is delivered.