Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust confirmed they are dealing with the incident, involving the ambulances but no one has been injured.

Patients watched in horror as the three ambulances burst into flames, causing more than half a million pounds worth of damage and shutting down the entire accident and emergency department.

The fire was declared as a major incident after the canopy at the front of the hospital caught fire and patients were escorted out of the accident and emergency block as the billowing smoke spread inside the building.

It was believed that one of the vehicles caught fire while it was parked outside the hospital entrance and the inferno spread to at least two other vehicles parked nearby.

The first fully-equipped motorcycle will be out on the roads of Ukrainian capital in April 2017. Until then, the organisers are looking for donors who would cover the cost of bikes and uniforms. The Union of Paramedics is ready to provide the new service with all necessary medical equipment.

Grande said the department "just went through a spell" where multiple trucks broke down. He said it was particularly unusual for both of the city's ladder trucks to have problems requiring service at the same time.

Fire and Rescue usually operates with a ladder truck and eight pumper engines in service and a ladder truck and two pumper engines in reserve, but Grande said the breakdowns left the department a little short.

However, Grande said the city was covered. The department took advantage of a deal in which it can temporarily lease trucks from Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, of Oak Grove.