When a routine school bus ride turned into a real-life hero moment, one Ohio driver proved that practice really does make perfect — especially when the stakes include 15 middle schoolers, a sudden fire, and a neighborhood cheering squad.
The drama unfolded in Cleveland Heights when Bus 21, on its way to Monticello Middle School, exploded in flames on neighborhood streets. Thick black smoke billowed from behind a rear wheel, but thanks to the driver’s lightning-fast response, every student evacuated safely — no injuries, no chaos, just a masterclass in cool-headedness.
“First and foremost, 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,” Superintendent Liz Kirby said, praising the driver’s anonymity request. “I spoke with the driver today, and they credited the annual bus evacuation drills that drivers do with students with preparing them.” Kirby also applauded the students who stayed calm amid the commotion.
An Ohio school bus driver was praised for saving children from burning bus. Photo by ABC
I must credit the students for reacting so calmly and following the driver’s instructions to get to safety,” she said.
“I saw a little girl getting on the bus like I do every day. After she got on the bus, I heard a big boom. I looked out the window and I saw flames coming from the side of the bus,” said one of the neighbors, Maureen Ottman, who saw the fire, described the chaos. “It is like nothing I have ever seen before, black smoke everywhere,” she said. “This house evacuated. The house across the street evacuated. All the kids got off the bus.”
Thirteen-year-old passenger Britt Mosby said they knew the situation was dangerous immediately. “There were a couple of booms,” Mosby said. “The bus driver said, ‘Everybody get off the bus.’ That’s when we ran from it and the bus just caught on fire. We were all scared. We called our parents. Luckily the bus driver got us off safely.”
Parents echoed the praise for the bus driver. Antwone Jones, whose child attends Monticello,said, “I’m highly grateful that everybody survived and was able to escape that.” Devin Morris Meadows, whose son and nephew were onboard, added, “It was very comforting hearing the bus driver had it under control.”
Firefighters work to put out a burning bus. Photo by ABC
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities confirmed Bus 21 had passed a state highway patrol inspection just days earlier with no safety violations. Kirby said mechanics were rechecking the entire fleet “out of an abundance of caution,” and that staff at Monticello rallied to support students as soon as they made it back to the school.
“Administrators, social workers, counselors, teachers, and additional staff at Monticello jumped into action to ensure supports were in place at school for students upon arrival,” Kirby said. The Cleveland Heights Fire Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol are working in tandem to investigate the cause of the fire.
