GEORGETOWN: The swift action of a bus driver in controlling a fire that broke out on a Rapid Penang bus successfully saved 20 passengers in an incident on Jalan Burma here, yesterday (Feb 3).
Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus), in its statement, said that the incident occurred at 5.05pm involving bus route 101 that heads towards the jetty.
"The trained bus driver, handling the unexpected emergency situation, promptly took action by stopping the bus to evacuate passengers.
"He then also attempted to control the fire from spreading using fire fighting equipment available on the bus," the statement said.
According to Rapid Bus, the driver and all passengers escaped unhurt, and there was no damage to public property.
"Rapid Bus apologises to the affected passengers and will cooperate with the fire department to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.
"So far, the cause of the fire is still under investigation," it added.
Meanwhile, the operations commander from the Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Station, Ahmad Rezki Faris Ismail, said they received an emergency call at 5.10pm.
He said, upon arriving at the location with 10 team members, they found the fire affecting the rear part of the bus that included the engine.
"The rescue team took about seven minutes to extinguish the fire, involving damage of up to 50 per cent.
"It is understood that at the time of the incident, the bus driver was disembarking passengers before realising there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle," he added.
The operation concluded at 6.06pm.