Footnote:-
Watching the video below from a 'risk' perspective there are a few questions to which I think answers should be provided.
That is an intense fire; the fire crew did very well to contain and control; credit to their calling, training and courage. That it was 'difficult' to control (30 minutes) begs many questions. It raises one big question; suppose those kids were on something like Parramatta Rd at that time of the day, or even out of 'bus lane hours'– busy don't quite cover it – the time the fire engine took to get there would, as always be a critical factor; traffic on both sides of the six lane would be at risk; big backed up line of traffic – mayhem; dangerous and chaotic. One bit of good sheer blind luck was the location.
'Mechanical failure' of Transdev's bus is a very 'broad' loose explanation. This was a fast moving, intensely hot fire; it needed a pretty big 'match' to kick it off. The speed at which the entire interior lit up was terrifying; the intense heat and the 'difficulty in controlling the fire speaks to the ferocity of the blaze. But what was burning and, importantly why was it burning so quickly and fiercely? All that is left of that vehicle is the skeleton frame – everything not metal burned away. Nothing in the interior was fire resistant – in fact the results speak of it being anything but. Why; and, who is responsible for the interior design standards for these vehicles.
![[Image: 9f44604c7d0af24c06b66d8123f6dcc70ac8761e...icy=wan_v3]](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-9714096/9f44604c7d0af24c06b66d8123f6dcc70ac8761e.jpg?imwidth=828&impolicy=wan_v3)
I would like to know more detail on 'what' actually started the fire; there ain't much in the way of 'flammable' material in an engine bay; bar bits of rubber and plastic and they do not burn in the manner this fire did. This fire needed a serious spark; something like a turbo charger blow out/ back or collapse. The speed at which this went from an engine bay fire into the fire we see is remarkable.
OTSI scope is limited to :-
• Examination of the system for planned and preventative engine maintenance for the coach.
• Examination of fire detection and suppression systems currently in use on NSW buses and coaches.
Good place to start – but what about the cabin fire? How come it caught fire so quickly, burned so intensely and defied the NSW FB best efforts for 30 minutes. Fire in the engine bay basically under control when the engine stops – nothing too combustible in there; but that passenger cabin fire was the real beast seriously dangerous. Be interesting to see what OTSI come up with on the cabin fire and what they can do about the materials used in the public space – like non-flammable materials. No doubt we shall see.
Watching the video below from a 'risk' perspective there are a few questions to which I think answers should be provided.
That is an intense fire; the fire crew did very well to contain and control; credit to their calling, training and courage. That it was 'difficult' to control (30 minutes) begs many questions. It raises one big question; suppose those kids were on something like Parramatta Rd at that time of the day, or even out of 'bus lane hours'– busy don't quite cover it – the time the fire engine took to get there would, as always be a critical factor; traffic on both sides of the six lane would be at risk; big backed up line of traffic – mayhem; dangerous and chaotic. One bit of good sheer blind luck was the location.
'Mechanical failure' of Transdev's bus is a very 'broad' loose explanation. This was a fast moving, intensely hot fire; it needed a pretty big 'match' to kick it off. The speed at which the entire interior lit up was terrifying; the intense heat and the 'difficulty in controlling the fire speaks to the ferocity of the blaze. But what was burning and, importantly why was it burning so quickly and fiercely? All that is left of that vehicle is the skeleton frame – everything not metal burned away. Nothing in the interior was fire resistant – in fact the results speak of it being anything but. Why; and, who is responsible for the interior design standards for these vehicles.
I would like to know more detail on 'what' actually started the fire; there ain't much in the way of 'flammable' material in an engine bay; bar bits of rubber and plastic and they do not burn in the manner this fire did. This fire needed a serious spark; something like a turbo charger blow out/ back or collapse. The speed at which this went from an engine bay fire into the fire we see is remarkable.
OTSI scope is limited to :-
• Examination of the system for planned and preventative engine maintenance for the coach.
• Examination of fire detection and suppression systems currently in use on NSW buses and coaches.
Good place to start – but what about the cabin fire? How come it caught fire so quickly, burned so intensely and defied the NSW FB best efforts for 30 minutes. Fire in the engine bay basically under control when the engine stops – nothing too combustible in there; but that passenger cabin fire was the real beast seriously dangerous. Be interesting to see what OTSI come up with on the cabin fire and what they can do about the materials used in the public space – like non-flammable materials. No doubt we shall see.