A bus carrying acetylene cylinders caught fire near Nowe Opole in Poland on December 22, prompting an extensive multi‑hour response by eight fire units.
Incidents and Initial Response
On Monday, 22 December at 9:11 p.m., firefighters from the Siedlce County received a report of a bus fire in the village of Nowe Opole. Preliminary findings show that gases on the vehicle’s floor ignited, with acetylene cylinders among the cargo.
Owner’s Evacuation
The bus was initially parked in a built‑up area. According to reports, the owner, seeing the danger, moved the vehicle out of the garage and drove it as far from buildings as possible. He reached a nearby field, left the bus there, and withdrew to a safe distance.
Firefighting Operations
At the scene, firefighters confirmed the presence of acetylene cylinders. They directed several streams of water at the burning load. For several hours they cooled the cylinders to reduce the heat risk.
A drone from the Hołubla volunteer fire service monitored the bus and the transported cylinders.
No injuries occurred.
Units Involved
Eight fire units took part in the operation: three from the Siedlce Fire‑Rescue Service, two from the Nowe Opole volunteer fire service, and one each from the Niwiski, Broszków, and Hołubla volunteer fire services.
Unknown Causes
The causes and exact circumstances of the fire are unknown.
