Ambulance Blaze Sparks Chaos on Basildon’s A130
An ambulance erupted in flames and brought traffic to a grinding halt at the busy Sadlers Farm roundabout in Basildon yesterday evening. Witnesses reported a “huge bang” followed by thick smoke pouring into the sky.
Blaze Brings A130 to a Standstill
The fire ignited just after 7:15 pm on Monday. The ambulance quickly became engulfed, blocking the northbound A130 lane between Sadlers Farm and Rayleigh Spur. This sparked massive tailbacks as emergency crews scrambled to tackle the inferno.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called at 7:21 pm. Teams from Basildon and Rayleigh Weir raced to the scene and doused the flames by 8:07 pm, but the vehicle was left completely destroyed.
“We were called to a vehicle fire on the A130 northbound, Sadlers Farm to Rayleigh Spur, yesterday at 7.21 pm. Crews from Basildon (two) and Rayleigh Weir attended and extinguished the fire by 8.07 pm.” — Essex Fire and Rescue spokesperson
Lucky Escape for Ambulance Crew
Miraculously, the crew escaped unharmed. No patients were on board at the time. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Locals described hearing a deafening explosion that shook windows in the area.
Traffic Chaos and Community Shock
- Long queues formed as motorists were urged to avoid the area.
- Photos show snarled traffic and plumes of smoke towering above the roundabout.
- Residents took to social media, with one saying: “It was really loud – I thought something had blown up. The smoke was everywhere, and it looked really serious.”
Investigation Underway
Authorities are probing the blaze. The ambulance was privately operated on behalf of the NHS. Drivers with dashcam footage are urged to contact Essex Fire and Rescue Service to help with the investigation.
Stay tuned for updates as the story develops.
