So... There's a Fire on the Bus

No, it’s not just the heating on full blast. You smell smoke. It’s not the usual chip wrappers or someone sneaky vaping upstairs, this one’s real.

Don’t panic. You’re not expected to fight it, just handle it. Stop the bus, get folk off safely, and call it in. Job done.

Now, here’s how to do that without making the six o’clock news.

Right, let's not beat about the bush. If you ever find yourself driving along and notice smoke sneaking out from somewhere it shouldn’t, or worse, you smell burning and it’s not just someone’s leftover chips, then congratulations, your shift just got a whole lot more interesting.

Now’s not the time to panic. Here’s what to do.

First off, stop the bus. Sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed. Bring it to a halt as safely as possible. We’re aiming for “calm professional” not “emergency stop on a roundabout.” Try to avoid stopping in tunnels, outside schools, or next to anything that might go boom, petrol stations being top of that list. But if the fire’s getting lively, pull over wherever you safely can. The key word there is safely.

Once you’re stopped, handbrake on, pop it into neutral, open all the doors, and hit the hazard lights. Then, flick off the power and use the emergency cut-off switch in the cab. That wee red switch you normally ignore? That one. This is its big moment.

Now, you’ve got passengers, ideally still calm ones. Speak up, loud and clear, and get everyone off the bus. If the doors are stuck, send them to the emergency exits or use the window hammer. You’ll find it’s surprisingly satisfying to break glass when you’re allowed to. Just don’t let anyone start filming a TikTok while doing it.

If you’ve got passengers who need a bit of extra help, wheelchair users, older folk, or parents with buggies, you may need to lift and carry. Yes, it’s in the job description now. And please, make sure everyone’s off the bus before you even think about stepping off yourself. Take the ticket machine and time board if it’s safe to grab, no need to let the fire get away with fare fraud.

Once everyone’s off, head 100 metres upwind. Yes, upwind, so the smoke blows away from you, not into your lungs. Think of it like positioning yourself for the best view of someone else’s BBQ, just with more urgency and fewer sausages.

Now it’s time to make some calls. First, dial 999. Tell them where you are, what’s happening, what kind of bus you’re in (double deck, single deck, baked potato on wheels) and whether it runs on diesel, electric, or a mix of stress and caffeine. After that, contact your control. You know the number, even if you pretend you don’t when it rings on your day off.

You might be tempted to play firefighter. There is an extinguisher on board, yes, and if the fire is small and you're feeling brave, but still sensible, you can try to slow it down. Just remember: your job is not to win awards for bravery. If it’s more than a wee puff of smoke, stand well back and let the experts handle it.

Also worth mentioning: your bus has a fire suppression system built in. If things get properly toasty, it’ll kick in automatically. Technology, eh?

Now for the absolute no-nos. Do not, under any circumstances, open the engine compartment. This isn’t an episode of Casualty, and you’re not qualified to poke around back there. Also, once you're off the bus, stay off. Don’t go back to check if Mrs McGregor left her knitting bag. Leave it to the fire crew, they’ve got the kit and the training.

To wrap it all up: your safety and your passengers’ safety are the whole point of this guide. If that means you spend the rest of your shift standing by the side of the road watching your bus smoke like a bonfire, so be it. You did your job.

And finally, if anyone asks later how it went, just say: “Everyone got off safely and I didn’t burn my eyebrows off.” That’s a win.

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Meta description: What to do if your bus catches fire – a serious guide with a light touch, for drivers who keep calm when things heat up.