Off-duty fire fighter who pulled the emergency cord to stop the burning train: A minute’s delay would have resulted in people suffocating

Senior Inspector Varban Petkov is the hero who saved the people from the burning Sofia-Varna train last night. He first noticed the fire, pulled the emergency brake and started to evacuate the passengers. His quick reaction probably saved their lives.

Fire on Sofia-Varna train, a driver slightly injured (photos + video)

Varban Petkov has 22 years of experience as a fire fighter in Varna. He travels this line several times a year. Fortunately, last night was one of his trips.

"It was in the section between Kaspichan and the town of Provadia, when a lady in the compartment said. "Sir, I can smell smoke". I went out into the corridor of the carriage, where it was quite smoky. All along the length of the carriage I opened all the windows in order to let the smoke out of the corridor and evacuate the people safely, which at the same time led to a drop in the temperature in the corridor, and then I managed to get to the emergency brake, I pulled it . There were some people who had mobility problems, it was difficult for them to get out and other passengers carried them to safety. If we had delayed for a minute, there would have been suffocated people," he said.

The fire started in the second carriage and quickly engulfed the first carriage. Within minutes several fire fighting teams arrived on the scene

"We were lucky that there was an off-duty fire fighter travelling on the train. He made sure that the other people didn't panic. There is nothing scarier than panic," said Chief Commissioner Nikolay Nikolov, Head of General Directorate “Fire Safety and Population Protection”.

After the first inspection last night, fire fighters already have their own version for the cause of the fire.

"Most likely it was a technical malfunction, as a crackling was heard and smoke appeared during the movement of the train. Immediately a blazing fire started, which developed very quickly," explained Commissioner Ivan Ivanov, head of Shumen Regional Fire Fighting Department.

Before leaving Sofia, the train was checked in accordance with the existing internal regulations, the national railway company BDZ said. No violations were found. An investigation group from Sofia arrived to inspect the burnt train. Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated.

"Investigation under Article 330, paragraph 2 or for the fact that property of considerable value was destroyed and the fire posed a danger to the lives of passengers," said Orlin Kuzdov, Shumen district prosecutor.

A fire expert examination and questioning of witnesses will be conducted.