Nightwatchman saved coaches from fire
12:17pm Friday 25th April 2008
A NIGHTWATCHMAN has told how he braved blistering heat to steer three vehicles to safety as fire engulfed a Bromyard bus depot.
Mark Lewis, of Firs Orchard, Bromyard, endured temperatures which cracked the windscreens and melted the wing mirrors of the two coaches and recovery he drove to safety at Linton Trading Estate on Tuesday night.
“It certainly got quite warm in there,” he said.
Mr Lewis, who has worked for the Bromyard Omnibus Company for more than two years, was keeping an eye on the depot when he came out of a workshop and saw two school buses alight.
After calling the fire brigade, he says adrenaline took over.
“I just jumped in one of the coaches to try to get it away from the flames,” he said.
“I did not ask the fire crew, it was just instinct. The worst bit was moving the lorry - the heat was almost unbearable.”
One of the coaches Mr Lewis moved is the most valuable vehicle in the fleet at £98,000. All three vehicles can be repaired, unlike 11 coaches and two school buses which were completely gutted.