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San Bruno emergency teams rehearse rail and hydrogen‑bus scenarios after 2022 derailment
Summary
Fire and emergency officials described a series of tabletop and full‑scale multiagency exercises—based on a 2022 Caltrain derailment—to test unified command, communications interoperability, and operational response to complex transportation incidents including hydrogen‑bus fires.
Battalion Chief Michael Coup summarized a multiagency training program developed after the March 2022 Caltrain incident that damaged equipment and caused injuries. The training program included a tabletop exercise with Caltrain and BART scenario integration, technical trainings, and a full‑scale live exercise simulating a hydrogen bus fire at the BART bus loop.
Coup said the exercises focused on unified command, interoperable communications, and validating mutual aid protocols among fire, police and transportation agencies. The department purchased interoperable communications equipment—partly through successful grants—to allow responders to coordinate directly with transit operators and regional partners during complex incidents.
He described the live scenario where a hydrogen‑fuel bus sustains structural damage and a subsequent hydrogen leak and fire; responders practiced evacuations, triage and integrated communications. The event also produced a recorded exercise video used for training and after‑action review.
Mayor and council members thanked staff for cross‑jurisdiction collaboration and noted these rehearsals support preparedness as transit systems modernize (new electric and hydrogen vehicles). The city acknowledged ongoing coordination with BART, Caltrain, Caltrans and regional agencies for future exercises.
Next steps: more technical trainings, a planned BART underground exercise, and continued multiagency coordination and equipment upgrades.
