Bus Safety Investigation Report - Bus fire m/o9340 - Lane Cove - 14 April 2022

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What happened

On 14 April 2022, bus m/o9340 was operating on route 642X between Sydney and Dural, NSW. At approximately 2012, the bus entered the Lane Cove Tunnel travelling westbound.

As the bus continued, a passenger sitting on the rear seat noticed a fire at the rear of the vehicle and alerted the bus driver. The bus was travelling in the middle lane at the time and the driver pulled the bus over and stopped in the left-hand lane just before 2014. Smoke was coming from the burning bus as other vehicles passed it.

The 14 passengers on the bus were evacuated and began to walk within the tunnel in a westerly direction. The driver unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire using a portable fire extinguisher. They then left the area and walked in the same direction as the passengers. Passing motorists picked up some of the passengers who were walking in the tunnel. The bus driver and two passengers were picked up by an ambulance and taken out of the tunnel.

What we found

• A leak of either hydraulic oil or coolant was likely ignited by a hot surface on the nearside of the engine bay of the bus. The fire spread from the engine bay destroying the bus.
• The passengers safely evacuated from the bus but were left to manage their own evacuation from the tunnel by foot while the driver attempted to extinguish the fire. The passengers and driver risked being struck by passing motorists as they attempted to evacuate the tunnel and evade smoke from the burning bus.  
• The bus operator’s emergency evacuation training and procedures did not effectively manage the risks associated with evacuations in tunnels. 
• The driver of bus m/o9340 had not been trained in the fire suppression system fitted to the bus. 
• The initial response to the fire and pedestrians in the tunnel was delayed as the design and configuration of the cameras for the LCT provided reduced coverage for the automatic detection of incidents.  

What has been done as a result

OTSI has made four recommendations to the bus operator, the tunnel operator, and Transport for NSW as part of its investigation.

Hillsbus Co Pty Ltd

• Review driver training to ensure drivers receive training on the indicators for an impending breakdown and emergency evacuation scenarios, aligned to appropriately assessed responses.
• Review driver emergency evacuation training and procedures to ensure that information relevant to fire and life safety systems in tunnels is provided to drivers to enhance response to emergencies in tunnels. The review should consider the risks and required response by drivers for emergencies on their bus and include how they should evacuate passengers to a safe place if needed, as well as responding to emergencies involving other vehicles in tunnels.

Transurban

• Review the configuration and effectiveness of the automatic visual incident detection system for the Lane Cove Tunnel to determine if enhancements can be made to ensure the automatic detection of incidents.

Transport for NSW

• Facilitate coordination between tunnel operators and TfNSW accredited bus operators to develop and implement updated emergency procedures and preparedness arrangements.