Bus carrying schoolchildren catches fire
RAF FIRE CREW TO THE RESCUE ON MOORS
A COACH carrying schoolchildren set ablaze on the moors following an end-of-year trip.
The bus was travelling across the North York Moors when the rear of the vehicle caught on fire on the A169, a major road that leads towards Whitby.
The fire, which was due to a failed pump that leaked diesel into the engine compartment, was quickly put out by the RAF Fylingdales fire crew.
The four-man team used specialist breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze, and there were no injuries for any of the pupils or staff from the Teesside school, who were on their way back from Flamingo Land.
Fire crews from Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay also attended the incident on Thursday and were able to take over control of the situation.
RAF Fylingdales Fire Crew Watch Manager Baz Gargedt said: “We were just relieved to be able to get to the fire so quickly. Our guys acted, as always, swiftly and calmly and thankfully there were no injuries.”
As the other fire crews took over, it meant RAF Fylingdales were able to go back to their primary mission of protecting the RADAR on the North York Moors.
Rev’d Paul Burnett, Watch Manager at Whitby Fire Station, added: “Many thanks to our RAF fire service colleagues for reacting so quickly to what was a quickly escalating fire with many young people on the roadside.
“Their additional support led to a quick conclusion of the incident.
“We occasionally train together, and this close working relationship pays dividends at times such as this.”
The Gazette contacted coach company Compass Royston for comment.
Many thanks to RAF fire service colleagues for reacting so quickly to what was a quickly escalating fire
Paul Burnett