FIRE investigators looking into the massive blaze which ripped through Kev’s Cars and Coaches Limited in Lydiate Ash have concluded it was caused accidentally.
It broke around 10pm last Friday and destroyed most of the vehicles in the firm’s fleet.
At its height, more than 70 firefighters battled the blaze.
A Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue crew from Bromsgrove arrived first on the scene and requested assistance, initially from West Midlands Fire Service which sent its crews from Northfield, Kings Norton and Woodgate.
Next to arrive were crews from Redditch, Wyre Forest and Kidderminster – the latter two to help with commanding the incident.
Specialist engines were also sent from Droitwich, Worcester, Evesham and a water carrier from Leominster.
One fire crew – from Bromsgrove – remained at the scene the next day to damp down and to ensure it would not reignite.
The fire investigators from HWFRS worked hard throughout the weekend in a bid to establish the cause.
The company was started in 1975 by current owner Kev Nind’s father Peter who used his redundancy pay from Bromsgrove’s Garringtons to launch it.
In 1987, Kev bought the company and continued to build the family firm’s character and profile.
The company prided itself on buying new, high-quality vehicles to provide comfortable, safe travel for customers and it has established itself well in the local area, running several bus services around Rubery and south Birmingham, as well as school transport.
Following the fire, Kev has vowed to rebuild the business and thanked both West Midlands and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Services for their professionalism in dealing with the incident.
Posting on Spotted Bromsgrove he said: “On behalf of Wendy and myself, we wold like to take this opportunity of thanking all our customers for their understanding and kind words. “It gives us the encouragement to continue and we are working 24/7 to get everything up for you all.”
Services had to be cancelled on Saturday and Monday but Green Bus of Hockley stepped in and loaned the company some vehicles so they could restart.
