AN AMBULANCE technician had to flee from his vehicle after it caught fire near a Basingstoke industrial estate.

The fire occurred in Winchester Road, South Ham, near the Basingstoke Business Centre, at 5.07am on Tuesday.

Crew manager David Bowen, of Basingstoke fire station, said: “We turned up and the car was well alight.

“The paramedic was in between calls and doing some paperwork when he smelt smoke. He saw that the car was on fire so he got out, removed the oxygen tanks from the boot, and called the emergency services.”

A total of five firefighters tackled the blaze, which completely destroyed the Volvo estate car – a South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) vehicle.

The ambulance technician was taken to Basingstoke hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation.

James Keating-Wilkes, of SCAS, said: “I can confirm that one of our rapid response vehicles caught fire in Basingstoke. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown but an investigation is currently being carried out.”