(TNND) — A doorbell camera in suburban Minneapolis captured a dramatic scene earlier this month when a school bus erupted into flames on a neighborhood street.
Kari Thorp, a mother in the area, recounted the harrowing experience as her daughter was being dropped off from school. “She got about halfway to the driveway and I’m like, ‘fire, fire!'” Thorp said.
The incident occurred in Thorp’s neighborhood as her daughter and 21 other East Bethel Elementary students were on the bus, according to local news outlets.
Thorp noticed smoke and flames coming from under the bus and quickly alerted the driver. “It was crazy. I’m just thankful that he was very calm,” she said.
Thanks to the swift actions of Thorp and the bus driver, all 22 children were safely evacuated. Thorp’s Ring doorbell captured the students gathering in front of her house as the flames spread. “Kids were crying. Kids were scared, freaking out. It was quite emotional and kind of frantic,” Thorp described.
Within minutes, the fire engulfed the bus. “It moved pretty fast. It was probably within 15 minutes that thing was engulfed. It was crazy to see the tires explode,” Thorp said to Fox9. School staff and volunteer firefighters arrived quickly to control the flames. The intense heat from the fire melted parts of the road in front of Thorp’s house.
In the aftermath, some backpacks, lunch boxes, and the school bus were lost to the fire. However, Thorp and the bus driver were recognized by parents and school leaders for their heroic efforts. As investigators work to determine the cause of the fire, Thorp reflects on the potential consequences if she hadn’t seen the flames. “I don’t think he would have gotten very far. And I don’t think we would have been able to get those kids off the bus as fast,” she said.
Parents believe a recent bus safety course at the school may have contributed to the swift evacuation.