A coach fire is an unthinkable event to occur on a school trip, but as an incident on the M6 on the 23rd May demonstrated, it is one that teachers simply must consider. A coach carrying over 50 year five pupils and their teachers from Brandhall Primary School in Oldbury caught fire on a heaving stretch of motorway just outside Birmingham. The children were returning from a day out at the National Space Centre in Leicester when the Green Bus they were travelling on ignited, the flames being spotted by a watchful teacher. The children were seen climbing from the vehicle to safety on the northbound side of the carriageway as the vehicle was swiftly consumed by flames.
The response of the coach driver has been hugely commended. He helped with the efficient evacuation of the coach before the flames reached a dangerous degree. The children were then safely boarded onto the coach of another driver who stopped to help. Paul Bingham the rescuing coach driver described how he was 400 yards behind the incident and could see the flames coming out the back of the vehicle. He had an empty coach and quickly pulled over allowing the students to board.
The Academy Trust involved praised his bravery and clarity of mind in keeping all the children and staff safe on his coach before taking them to the Motorcycle Museum where they met a replacement. Mr Bingham stated that he was embrassed to be labelled a hero and was just happy he could help.
‘This could clearly have been a much more serious incident but for the quick actions of the coach drivers, teachers and children’ said the Trust. Head Teacher Liz Hart added that Mr Bingham was a ‘true hero’ and that the staff and pupils had also ‘handled it so sensibly and calmly. The staff kept everyone safe the whole time and I am just so impressed. All the children were amazing. They were singing and just keeping busy. I am so proud of all of them.’
Several children and the driver were treated for smoke inhalation although no one is in a serious condition.
The event demonstrates the need to have contingency plans for even the most unlikely of events and to remain calm and collected in the face of danger. The staff knew that on a busy stretch of motorway the children needed to be removed to a safe space away from the hazards generated by both the wreckage and the traffic. The knowledge and resources of the drivers were utilised effectively, and they were able to deal with the logistics while staff could keep their students calm and organised.
Thorough risk assessment will make you as prepared as possible for the hazards which can be readily anticipated. For those that can’t, it can help you have robust contingency plans, allocated roles and contacts in the event of crisis.
