28-02-2025
Students escape school bus fire in Ohio
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) — An emergency broke out Thursday morning on a school bus carrying children in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. An unexpected blaze — requiring a quick evacuation.
Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District Superintendent Liz Kirby said in a statement issued Thursday that the fire began behind one of Bus 21's rear wheels.
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The cause of the fire is under investigation. Kirby noted that Bus 21 passed its annual state inspection just two weeks ago. Mechanics re-inspected the district's entire fleet on Thursday 'out of abundance of caution,' she wrote.
The bus was carrying 15 students to a local middle school. They were picked up by another bus driver who was in the area, according to the statement. When they got there, administrators, social workers, counselors, teachers and others were ready to offer support, Kirby wrote.
All students got off of the bus safely, said Cleveland Heights Police Chief Chris Britton.
District officials said the safe evacuation was thanks to the 'quick action of the bus driver' and that students were offered support from counselors and staff once they arrived at school.
'I can't express how relieved I am that no one was hurt, and I am incredibly grateful for the quick response from the driver. I spoke with the driver today, and they credited the annual bus evacuation drills that they do with students with preparing them,' Superintendent Kirby wrote, adding that the driver has asked not to be identified.
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'I also must credit the students for reacting so calmly and following the driver's instructions to get to safety,' she added.
Maureen Ottoman, a witness who lives right where the fire happened, told FOX 8 News she estimated there were just a handful of kids on the bus at the time of the fire, but said she couldn't believe her eyes.
'I hear a big boom,' said Ottoman. 'I looked out the window and saw a big flame of fire coming right out the side of the bus. Ran downstairs and called 911.'
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