Quick Thinking Saves 22 Children as School Bus Bursts Into Flames

David Muir reports on mom saving 22 children from bus engulfed in flames

A Minneapolis mother and a calm bus driver act fast when a routine school drop-off turns terrifying

Saves 22 Children

A quiet suburban street in Minneapolis became the scene of a frightening emergency earlier in October 2025 when a school bus carrying elementary students suddenly caught fire. A doorbell camera captured the moment flames and smoke erupted from beneath the bus just as children were being dropped off.

Kari Thorp, a local mother, was watching her daughter walk home when she noticed something was terribly wrong. “She got about halfway to the driveway, and I’m like, ‘fire, fire!'” Thorp said.

At the time, Thorp’s daughter and 21 other East Bethel Elementary students were still onboard. Smoke and flames were visible under the bus, and Thorp immediately alerted the driver. “It was crazy. I’m just thankful that he was very calm,” she said.

Thanks to the quick response from both Thorp and the driver, all 22 children were safely evacuated. Thorp’s Ring camera recorded the students gathering in front of her home as the fire intensified. “Kids were crying. Kids were scared, freaking out. It was quite emotional and kind of frantic,” Thorp explained.

The situation escalated rapidly. “It moved pretty fast. It was probably within 15 minutes that the thing was engulfed. It was crazy to see the tires explode,” Thorp told Fox9. Firefighters and school staff arrived within minutes, but the heat from the blaze was so intense it melted portions of the roadway.

Mom helps evacuate 22 kids from school bus that caught on fire

Although backpacks, lunch boxes, and the bus itself were destroyed, no children were injured. Parents and school leaders later praised Thorp and the bus driver for their decisive actions. As investigators look into what caused the fire, Thorp reflected on how the situation could have ended differently. “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 also believe recent bus safety training at the school helped students evacuate quickly and calmly under pressure.

This incident is a powerful reminder that emergencies don’t always announce themselves—and that everyday people can become heroes in seconds. Alert parents, well-trained drivers, and prepared students made all the difference. Situations like this prove why safety training and vigilance are essential when children’s lives are at risk.

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