Originally Posted by
surely not
At the major airports I have worked at it was a requirement for all ramp staff to receive fire training, and recurrency training bi-annually. In that training will be an instruction to call the emergency services and advice not to try to be a hero. Stands usually have a dedicated emergency phone or failing that a landline phone to call from, plus there will be ramp staff with radio contact to their offices who can get the office staff to call the emergency services if needed.
As already mentioned, the height above ground of this fire is probably the major factor as to why the fire bottles in the vehicles, and the fire equipment at the head of stand, wasn't used.
It may well be that they looked at how quickly it was taking hold and realised that their little extinguishers were already outclassed.