Essex

Firefighters Use First Bus in Terror Attack Training

Fire crews practice rescue and decontamination in training drill

Four students from Southend were evacuated from a bus after a white powder was released on board. But dont worry - it was only a drill!

Firefighters cordoned off the area and ordered everyone on board to stay where they were, until the substance could be identified.

First in Essex donated the retired bus to Essex Fire & Rescue Service to support their training. Rather than cut up the bus right away, and not be able to use it again, firefighters in Southend wanted to be able to get as much use out of it as possible.

The chemical incident gave crews an opportunity to practice evacuation and decontamination of public transport passengers in the event of a suspected terror attack.

The scenario involved a suspicious white powder being released on board the single-decker vehicle, contaminating the bus and passengers. Students from South East Essex College willingly played the part of the victims and bus driver, braving the cold weather and the rain to help out the fire crews. Rescuers in protective gas suits with oxygen lead the passengers to safety for decontamination.

A spokesperson for First Essex Buses said: "It was warming to see the old Dennis Dart bus being put to good use after it retired from service "- instead of going to the big scrapyard in the sky.

"A huge thank you also goes to the BTEC acting students from Southend college for their hard work on Friday, I know their help was appreciated by the fire crews. We are also grateful to Essex Fire and Rescue for involving us in their training.

"We aim is to make First known for providing safe, reliable, high quality accessible and personal transport services " the safety of our passengers and staff is our top priority. Since incidents of this type are so rare, it is reassuring to know that Essex crews can practice with real vehicles and real people.'

Assistant Divisional Officer Martyn Hodder, Southend Station Commander for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: "I would like to thank First Group, crews do not often get to train on large vehicles like this and this is the first exercise we have used it in and there will be several more to come.

"We simulated a terrorist attack with white powder thrown on passengers on the bus and crews safely evacuating and decontaminating them. Exercises like this help our crews to be ready for any incident which we might have to face.'

The donated 39-seater Dennis Dart bus is to be replaced as part of a roll-out of newer, low-floor buses in the Essex fleets.