Ohio School Bus Fire Forces Evacuation of 15 Students

A quick-thinking bus driver safely evacuated students after a fire engulfed the vehicle during a morning route in Cleveland Heights.

A school bus carrying 15 students to Monticello Middle School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, caught fire Thursday morning at the intersection of Cambridge and Northampton roads.
The bus driver promptly evacuated all students, ensuring no injuries occurred, and credited the district's annual bus evacuation drills for the students' calm response.
Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control, though the fire caused extensive damage to the bus and an overhanging tree caught fire during the incident.
The students were transferred to another district bus and transported to school, where counselors and staff provided support upon their arrival.
The bus had passed a state-mandated inspection earlier this month, and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the school district, fire department, and state highway patrol.