Everybody is safe after a school bus became engulfed in flames while on its way to Monticello Middle School in Cleveland Heights early Thursday morning at the corner of Cambridge and Northampton roads.
The Cleveland Heights Fire Department shared several pictures on Facebook that show flames pouring out of the bus windows. You can see those images in the post below. 3News has also obtained video from the scene of the fire, which you can watch in the player at the top of this story. “The bus driver acted quickly and got all of the students off the bus and to safety,” according to the fire department’s Facebook post. “There were no injuries and the fire was quickly brought under control by the Cleveland Heights Fire Department."
According to Cleveland Heights-University Heights Superintendent Liz Kirby, the bus was transporting 15 students at the time of the fire. Another CH-UH driver was in the area and able to pick up the students and get them to the school.
Kirby added that the fire broke out "behind one of the rear wheels of the bus." However, officials have not provided any additional details regarding the cause of the fire.
Living right at the intersection of the incident, Maureen Ottman heard the commotion before she saw it.
“Heard a big boom. Looked out the window and I saw flames coming from the gas tank," she said.
Ottman immediately dialed 911, where she says the operator told her to calm down.
"I was just racing and was just 'bus on fire. Bus on fire.'"
Photo: Don Hammond / Design Pics / Getty Images