The Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) has released its latest report into bus fires in 2019, revealing a significant decreased in blazes – from 14 fires in 2018, down to six in 2019.
The Office said that all reported fires had been documented and included incidents which did not progress to a fire but had involved excessive heat and the generation of smoke.
“The reports were assessed and grouped into two categories: fire incidents and thermal incidents,” OTSI said.
“In most cases, the origin and cause of the incident was readily identifiable and did not require an in-depth investigation,” it said.
“OTSI investigators examined buses on five occasions following the report of a fire.”
The Office said the report also summarised the implementation progress of recommendations made in previous reports.
It said the report revealed that there was an increase in the severity of damage to vehicles, with four vehicles destroyed in 2019 compared to three in 2018.
“[Of] the number of vehicles with major damage, one incident was the same as 2018,” it said.
“It appears that at least six buses were saved from major damage by the activation of the engine bay fire suppression (EBFS) system.”
OTSI said all NSW buses under Transport for New South Wales metropolitan and outer metropolitan contract were now fitted with EBFS systems.
“All future buses supplied under these contracts will be delivered with EBFS systems.”
It said that despite the increase in reported incidents, there had been only one reported injury.
The 33-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
