On July 15, a 301 bus in Guangzhou was intentionally set on fire, resulting in two deaths and 32 injuries. Bus fires have once again become a hot topic of discussion. As an important mode of public transportation, buses are closely tied to the work and lives of many people. What should you do if a fire breaks out while you're riding a bus? How can you escape correctly? To find out, reporters interviewed relevant departments.
According to officials from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Firefighting Bureau, when a fire occurs on a bus, it usually spreads suddenly and rapidly. Both drivers and passengers must stay calm, quickly identify escape exits, and avoid panicking or shouting blindly.
The driver should stop the bus promptly, open the doors, cut off the power, and evacuate passengers. If the doors can be opened normally, passengers should get off nearby and move to an open area. When doors and windows cannot be opened normally, use a safety hammer or hard, pointed objects such as high heels, belt buckles, or keys to strike the corners and edges of the windows to break them and escape. In addition, sunroofs, built-in emergency exits, and escape vents are also viable escape routes.
When evacuating, passengers should use towels or clothing to cover their mouths and noses to prevent inhaling harmful gases or suffocation. After escaping, call the police immediately. If conditions allow, you may assist in the rescue efforts.
At the same time, as participants in public transport, all passengers should raise their safety awareness. Police officers from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau’s Public Transport Safety Protection Corps remind passengers not to carry flammable or explosive hazardous items such as gasoline, alcohol, hair spray, paint, or lighter gas when taking a bus. When drivers or staff question passengers about carried items, cooperation is essential. If you notice any pungent odors or signs of smoke or fire on the bus, report it to the driver or staff immediately so they can handle the situation promptly.
Could strict security screening procedures, like those at airports and subway stations, be implemented at bus stops? Industry insiders say that unlike the enclosed stations of airplanes and subways, bus stops are mostly open in design, allowing free entry and exit. Furthermore, bus lines are numerous and stops are relatively close together — a single route can have dozens of stops — making it difficult to install screening checkpoints.