Florida Driver Evacuates 16 Students After School Bus Catches Fire
The fire is determined to have started in the front of the bus, but the cause remains under investigation.
The driver with Broward County (Fla.) Public Schools safely evacuated 16 students from the bus after it caught fire. Photo courtesy Tamarac Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Eric Viveros
TAMARAC, Fla. — A school bus driver was able to safely evacuate students from their bus on Thursday after it caught fire, WSVN reports.
At around 4:15 p.m., crews from Tamarac Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the blaze in the area of Northwest 61st Street and 84th Terrace, according to the news source. A spokesperson for Broward County Public Schools told WSVN that the bus was transporting students home from Nova Blanche Elementary School when the front of the bus caught fire.
Officials confirmed to the news source that the driver was able to bring the bus to a stop and ensure all 16 elementary school students on board evacuated the bus safely. No injuries were reported.
Crews extinguished the flames; however, the vehicle has been declared a total loss, according to WSVN. The students were transferred to another school bus to take them to their destinations, the news source reports. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
To read the full story, go here.
More Safety
The Driver Shortage Playbook
How student transportation fleets are hiring, retaining and adapting .
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →