School bus driver rescues children after bus fire

A bus carrying four special needs students caught fire in Brooklyn Park this morning.

None of the students was injured. The driver, an employee of bus company First Student who has not been identified, acted quickly to evacuate students, Brooklyn Park police commander Mark Bruley said.

"He smelled the smoke [and] he didn't just ignore it or continue to go down the road," Bruley said. "He immediately pulled over and realized he didn't like the smell. By the time he got the kids off and came back the smoke had been pouring out and the fire continued to build."

The students, two of whom were in wheelchairs, spent about 20 minutes outside while firefighters battled the fire, according to the Osseo school district. They took another bus to school where health service staff evaluated them.