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The small hours of the morning of 18^th June 1957 saw disaster strike Provincial. The first signs of the fire to come were spotted by some night cleaners in the former tram depot and they raised the alarm at about 1:45. Seven fire appliances arrived to deal with the blaze, and were able to stop the fire from spreading to the new garage, which was just as well as it held about 60 vehicles. As a precaution these were driven out and lined up in Fareham Road. Once the fire was brought under control it was discovered that all the vehicles inside had been destroyed or badly damaged along with garage equipment. In total six buses were completely destroyed, There were also some lorries being repaired by Harold Radford (Coachbuilders) which were also complete write offs. The list of Provincial losses were as follows:-

Two AEC Regal's also had their bodies destroyed in the fire they were:- 24 (CG 9607), and 27 (CG 9612). These were later rebodied by Reading.

* 16 (TM 5909) was a museum piece which was known as Old Bill's bride.

There was an obvious need, if services were to be kept running, to acquire some replacements quickly. The Southdown Company helped out by loaning two pre-war Leyland Titan's 149 (CCD 949) and 157 (EUF 157). They had 1950 East Lancs bodies and were of the Leyland TD4 and TD5 types. Over the next few months these were rotated with other similar Titan's, 125 (BUF 225), 178 (EUF 178) and 208 (FCD 508) and these vehicles performed this role until 18^th December when the last ones were returned.

By this time Provincial had acquired its own second hand replacements which comprised a motley selection of seven double deckers :-

16 (ACN 167) and 33 (ACN 172) were new to Northern General no's 1167/1172 in 1946

36-39 (FT 4220-2) were new to Tynemouth and District no's 93-95 in 1937, but their bodies were built in 1949. 37 and 39 exchanged fleet numbers after five days at Provincial.

65 (ETV 785) was new to Nottingham City Transport no 59 in 1938

72 (HHA 84) was new to BMMO (Midland Red) no 2589 in 1945. It was rebuilt by Hooten in 1951, with a characteristic built up nearside front wing. Provincial soon replaced this with a standard wing. In 1963 it became one of the Deutz engined rebuilds being finally withdrawn in 1971.

FCD 508, One of the Southdown Leylands which were on loan to Provincial after the fire, seen here at Gosport Ferry. Photo: Stephen Didymus Collection

16 (ACN 167) seen here at Hoeford with a temporary route number. 16 was new to Northern General as No.1167 in 1946. It is an AEC Regent II with NCB body.     Photo:Stephen Didymus Collection

Regent 33 (ACN 172) at the Ferry in January 1958 still in undercoat and without a fleetname. This bus was found to be suffering from rot, so did not last in service very long. The chassis, however, was used as the basis for the AEC-Ruston rebuild 14 (270 MHO).  Photo: Alan Lambert

No 36 (FT 4220) which came from Tynemouth and District after the fire. It is seen in West Street Fareham with the Provincial name below the upper deck front window, this was short lived.    Photo: J Cowdery

No 37 (FT 4221) one of the other ex Tynemouth and District Regent's acquired after the fire. It has a Pickering Body and is seen at Gosport Ferry.  Photo: Ray Soper

An atmospheric photo of 37(FT 4221) passing West End Post Office with a nice selection of period Vauxhall, Ford and Hillman saloons for company.   Photo: Fred York

Ex Nottingham AEC Regent 65 (ETV 785) is seen here at the Fareham (West End) terminus of routes 1/3 in St Michaels Grove, adjacent to Fairfield Avenue.   Photo: Fred York

No 72 (HHA 84) is seen at Gosport Ferry. The built up front nearside wing fitted by BMMO has been replaced, detracting from the balanced lines of the body.    Photo: David Gillard

Apparently, Guy 9 (GHO 596) was in the workshops undergoing a minor rebuild and repaint at the time of the fire. With so many vehicles lost or damaged, it had to be hurriedly pressed into service still in undercoat and minus its fleetname and number.  Photo: D.Clark

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