News | LondonBus passengers flee double-decker fireball Explosion: the blazing bus in Pepys Road, Brockley, where passengers were unharmed thanks to the driver’s quick thinkingMarie O'Sullivan19 March 2012A bus driver evacuated passengers with minutes to spare before his double-decker exploded in flames.Witnesses told today of hearing a loud explosion as the No 343 became a fireball at the bus stop outside St Catherine’s Church in Pepys Road, Brockley.A second explosion blew off a bus tyre, spreading the blaze to a nearby parked car. Passengers, who all escaped unharmed, said the bus driver hurried them to safety after seeing a spark.Firefighters took an hour to put out the blaze. The Rev Sheridan James said the blast shook her vicarage at about 8.20am on Saturday.“I heard a loud bang, then there was another bang,” she said. “I looked out of my window and saw the bus consumed with flames. I quickly put on my clerical shirt and rushed out in case there were fatalities.”London Fire Brigade said a mechanical failure could be to blame but investigations are continuing.MORE ABOUTBusesCarsChurchesLondon Fire BrigadeTransport