Quite right, 773.
But even then the Cabin Crew should only take unilateral action if the Flight Deck crew are incapacitated.
First rule should be they check. CRM is everything in emergencies. Without it people are going to die unnecessarily. Three words of guidance here:-
- Communicate
- Communicate, and
- Communicate
They should not be initiating an evacuation without checking first with the Flight Deck to see whether or not they are incapacitated.
Nor should they do so when the aircraft is in motion, nor on the side of the aircraft on which the fire is!
The #1 did not follow procedures, did not follow common sense or logic, did not communicate and in doing so turned a minor incident into a major peril for all on board the aircraft. Perhaps (s)he should be spending a little more time in the garden...