Emergency services rushed to a three vehicle fire when three ambulances went up in flames - outside a hospital.
Local residents reported hearing loud bangs and smoke billowing from the East Surrey Hospital after three ambulances parked outside caught fire at around 2pm today.
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.