CHESTERFIELD – Trapped in A smoke filled bus? Driving a school bus is not an easy job and knowing how to keep those on board safe is always a priority.

On Monday, Chesterfield County school bus drivers along with other South Carolina bus shop personnel safety-training staff, gathered in the parking lot behind the gym at Chesterfield High School to participate in a mock school bus fire training exercise. The mock exercise is designed to teach bus drivers how to get themselves and their passengers off of the bus safely during a bus fire. In addition, a separate training exercise on how to learn to use a fire extinguisher was also demonstrated.

“We are walking into a fine line when we are dealing with smoke, especially on a bus. The most important priority is to get the students off of the bus safely and as quick as possible,” said Cheraw Fire Chief John L. Melton, III.

Melton went on to briefly explain the instructions to those who were waiting to get in on a learning experience that could save the lives of students and themselves.

“I want you to find your way through the smoke filled bus to the back exit door while crawling on the floor. When you find the exit then open it. The smoke is not going to harm you because it is not real smoke, it is made with banana oil and is safe.”

Sponsored by Chesterfield County Transportation Department in conjunction with the Chesterfield County School District, local fire departments from Cheraw, Chesterfield, Brocks Mill, Sandhills and Cash Fire Departments were present to train and perform the demonstrations that displayed how a smoke filled bus could be a life-threatening circumstance.

Chesterfield County School District staff trainer Gerald Sellers said, “After an incident in Columbia last year when a school bus caught on fire, we wanted to make sure that if something like that ever happens here then the drivers are trained in knowing what to do in that type of emergency.”

Melton said that the fire department staff is always trying to make sure that everyone is aware of the urgency of having practice “fire drills”, whether they are held at work or at home.

“We always like to encourage everyone to hold practice fire drills whenever possible and often as they can because it is totally a different thing when smoke is involved,” said Melton.