Passengers flee burning bus

Picture / Dean Purcell

Auckland bus driver Tua George's first priority was to get his passengers to safety when he saw smoke billowing from the side of his bus this morning.

The experienced Stagecoach driver was heading up New North Rd towards the city when he noticed smoke starting to appear at the rear of his bus.

"I saw smoke coming from the side and at the same time a passenger said there was smoke coming from under the seat."

Mr George pulled into a bus stop near the Khyber Pass intersection, got his four passengers out of the bus and grabbed a fire extinguisher from the door.

After ushering his passengers safely to the other side of the road Mr George returned to the bus with the extinguisher.

"By the time I came back there was just smoke everywhere. Another guy came from one of the buildings and we tried to put it out but it was too much."

At the same time Annie Dean was watching the smoke turn to flames from her work across the road. Moments later the fire service arrived.

"By the time the firefighters got out of their trucks the whole bus was on fire. There were yellow flames. Two tyres popped and I thought 'oh no, it's going' to blow."

Fire Service Senior Station officer Barry Fox said there was little that could be done to save the bus, which was gutted by the blaze.

"Our concern was the (nearby) building which was just starting to get some flames. That was our priority, the bus was obviously beyond saving."

With the flames extinguished it was easy to see where the fire had started.

Seats were burned throughout the entire bus but at the back there was only blackened metal frames left. Windows were blown out.

Mr Fox said the fire started in the engine at the back of the bus but it was too early to say why.

Fire Safety officers were called in to investigate.

Mr Fox praised the bus driver for getting everyone out safety.

"Safety of his passengers was paramount. His actions are to be commended."

Stagecoach spokesman Garth Stewart said there would be a full investigation into the fire. He said the bus was only about 7-years old.

Neither Mr George or his passengers were injured during the fire but a TV3 photographer suffered smoke inhalation. She was given oxygen by firefighters and then treated at the scene by St John.