Commuters in passenger service vehicles will once in a while see a red can affixed somewhere around the rooftops of the cars. This is not a decoration but a fire extinguisher. They are very important tools in emergencies.

Probably, the owner of omnibus RAB 213R is wishing they had installed the same tiny equipment in that van.

On Wednesday, the omnibus caught a sudden fire that engulfed it within minutes of starting, leaving behind a mass of charred vehicle compartments.

No injuries were recorded as all the 30-plus occupants of the omnibus had already evacuated to safety by the time the fire engulfed the vehicle. This was thanks the driver’s quick thinking when the engine started emitting smoke.

No lives lost, no injuries sustained, but the vehicle is no more. Worse is that the vehicle had no comprehensive insurance plan. With only motor third party insurance, the owner of the omnibus will probably get no compensation.

This is a public loss to any businessperson. It could have been avoided had the vehicle been installed with the fire extinguisher. Since the driver spotted the smoke early enough, he probably would have put out the fire before causing any significant damage.

Following the incident, Police urged vehicles owners, especially public service vehicles, to install fire extinguishing equipment to avoid such scenarios.

This is not too much to ask. Safety on the road has never been just about good driving. Even falling ill on the road, such as motion sickness, could at times need attention. That explains why some public service vehicles have first aid kits installed in them.

Police are still investigating the cause of the fire, but for now, we should agree thatsafety is a responsibility and virtue we must all inculcate in us to protect both ourselves and those around us. The loss at KBC roundabout should not have happened.