Fire boss puts out car blaze as bus hits fire truck in Australia

ABC Premium News

SYDNEY — New South Wales fire service boss Greg Mullins leapt into action this morning after spotting a car fire which caused a crash that has left nine people in hospital.

Commissioner Mullins spotted the car on fire on the North Sydney approach to the Harbour Bridge shortly after 8:30am.

But after he extinguished the blaze the fire truck he had called to the scene was itself hit by a bus, leaving the bus driver with serious stomach injuries.

He has been taken to hospital, along with seven bus passengers and a firefighter, who are all suffering minor injuries.

Commissioner Mullins says he spotted the initial car fire while driving past.

"It was an unusual journey to work — my son was actually the first one to see, he saw black smoke coming out of a car that had parked on a traffic island and as the motorist lifted the bonnet, flames leapt out," he said.

"He obviously had no fire extinguisher and I did, luckily for him, so was able to put the fire out very quickly."