Allandale bus driver receives national award after helping to save Grangemouth residents from fire

Pamela McCluskey was named Frontline Employee of the Year at the 2020 Scottish Transport Awards in recognition of her heroic actions on Bonfire Night last year.

The First Bus driver brought her vehicle to a halt after noticing flames coming from a flat in Kingseat Avenue in Grangemouth and quickly alerted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

While on the phone, the Allandale woman headed to the rear of the block to assess the extent of the blaze and saw it spreading towards a property directly above.

Ms McCluskey then burst into the building and began banging on doors and windows to spread the word and ensure residents got out in time.

After being presented with her award via a virtual ceremony, the Larbert-based driver said: “I am thrilled to have been recognised by my peers.

“I am both shocked and proud in equal measure to have won this prestigious award at this year’s Scottish Transport Awards.

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“I appreciate being nominated for my actions and at the time I just leapt into action and at no time did this for a pat on the back. I just did what I thought anyone else would do.

“I thought, ‘There might be kids in there and everybody might be fast asleep’.

“It was Bonfire Night and if they smelled smoke they might have thought it was people letting off fireworks. It was late and people would’ve been in their bed so it was just instinct.

“I informed the duty controller at the time only because I was pleased that I still ran my service to time! First always instils in us to be caring and look after people and our passengers.

“I don’t think I did anything heroic — I just did what anybody else would do in that situation.”

Andrew Jarvis, managing director for First Bus in Scotland, said: “I am extremely proud that Pamela has been recognised by her colleagues and peers, but for her to win is a huge boost for the whole team at our Larbert depot.

“Pamela has undoubtedly avoided what could only be described as a potential catastrophic disaster.”

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