Children Escape Unharmed from School Bus Fire in Brooklyn Center
The Brooklyn Center Fire Department credits quick actions by a school bus driver to safely evacuate children from a burning school bus on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire occurred shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of 55th Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard.
According to Fire Chief Todd Berg, eight children from Noble Academy in Brooklyn Park were aboard the bus when it caught fire. Bystanders helped bring the children away from the smoke to a nearby sidewalk, Berg said.
“The bus was a total loss. However, thanks to the quick actions of the driver and several helpful bystanders, no injuries were reported, and the children remained in good spirits while waiting for their parents,” said Berg in a press release.
Firefighters got the bus fire under control in about 15 minutes, Berg said.
The Brooklyn Center Police Department assisted in reuniting the children with their parents. Metro Transit also provided a bus for the children to stay warm during the reunification process.
Berg said the bus was in the process of dropping off students from school when the fire occurred.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but fire officials believe it started due to a mechanical issue near the engine.
