After the A30 bus fire, First Bus clarifies it wasnt a school bus, aiming to quell rising safety concerns and rumors after the incident.
A First Bus caught fire near the Cornwall-Devon border. To stop rumors, the company clarifies the bus was not a school or college bus. The fire shut down part of the A30 road between Launceston and Sourton Cross, badly damaging the road’s surface.
One lane of the A30 eastbound reopened Sunday. The fire’s severe heat had destroyed the road. Recent bus fires have sparked worries about bus safety. For instance, last April, a double-decker bus caught fire near Temple.
That bus had just finished a school run, dropping off kids from Minions to Callington. No kids were on board during the fire. This same bus served the 116 school route and the 272 Truro College to Looe route.
The RMT union voices concern about old, unsafe buses, advocating for new buses to prevent a tragedy. The RMT also wants an expert to investigate this fire, fearing the next one could be fatal.
Barry West, an RMT rep, wrote to Simon Goff, manager of First South West, expressing drivers’ fears that their bus could be next, potentially leading to injuries or deaths . The RMT seeks safety assurances from the company.
Some believe the burned bus had recent college work and may have carried young people, according to West. He recalled a bus fire in April 2024 where a bus dropped off 50 kids, calling it a lucky escape.
First Bus conducted its own investigation, which the RMT deemed insufficiently independent. Now drivers demand assurances about their bus safety. The RMT pledges to fight for safer public transport, acknowledging people’s reliance on buses.
First Bus stated the bus was en route to Bath and was not used for school or college that day. No passengers were on board, and the driver was safe. The bus was being moved to Bath for fleet upgrades.
First Bus emphasized safety as their priority, committing to a full, independent investigation. They maintain strong fire safety rules and conduct careful inspections and servicing of buses. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Their insurer will manage damage costs after the probe.
