A very quick review if I may:
1. A genuine EMERGENCY situation developed upon landing with one engine and nearly the whole wing on the same side catching fire. A situation that could have resulted in the loss of the aircraft and its occupants in very short order. In a matter of mere MINUTES if the fire was left unattended.
2. Fire services put the fire out quite quickly and no one was harmed or injured. They were later commended for their speedy action, rightly so. The plane may not make it, but that is ok.
3. No evacuation was ordered or attempted. Cabin attendants apparently actively discouraged an EVAC. An apparently organized intent to NOT evac.
4. The questions:
a. Is there an SOP for this Situ? What does it say? Does it say EVAC ASAP?
b. Is it mandatory to follow company SOP ,always or sometimes or it depends?
c. Should crew follow company SOP in a genuine emergency situ? Or should they always assess the situation themselves and act accordingly in the heat of the moment, rightly or wrongly?
d. What do you think your airline is going to do when you don't follow SOP in an emergency situation, even if you proved later that it was OK not to?
e. What do you think the airline's lawyers and insurance company would insist on? Following SOP in Emergencies or Ad Hoc decision making?
f. Do you think they may be forced to fire you even if you were a "hero" ? What happened to the CX Ace that did a low fly by on acceptance of that brand new 777 at Paine Field?
g. Should you care if they fire you or not? You are going to do what you think is the very best in each situation regardless of what the "book" says?
Lives WERE at stake here in this situation, should you SOP or should you play it by ear? Or perhaps that was not true, lives were not at stake at all with the firemen right alongside within 2 mins. Everyone was going to be fine , ALWAYS.