BALDWIN CITY, Kan. — Tammy Ritter, a bus driver for Baldwin City Unified School District 348, saved a home from catching on fire last week while she was driving on her morning route, Lawrence Journal-World reports.
Ritter discovered that a doghouse on the porch of Lori and Dennis Lederer’s home had caught on fire, according to the newspaper. She realized no one was home, threw the doghouse onto the front lawn, stomped out as many of the flames as she could, called the fire department and brought the dog with her to the next stop on her route, Lawrence Journal-World reports. She told Tiffany Paulick, the mother of the students who lived near that stop, about the fire. Paulick went to the Lederers’ home, found a hose and put out the smoldering remains of the doghouse.
Meanwhile, Lori Lederer got a call that morning from her son-in-law, who is a firefighter, according to the newspaper. He told her there had been a fire at her home, but that firefighters had arrived to find that Ritter and Paulick’s efforts had prevented it from spreading.
Ritter returned to the house with the dog after dropping off her students at school. The only damage to the house was a dark stain on the porch floor and small singe on the siding, according to the newspaper. The marks are evidence of what could have been a disaster for the Lederers if not for the timely actions of Ritter and Paulick, Lori Lederer told Lawrence Journal-World.
To read the full story, go here.
School bus driver saves home from fire
Tammy Ritter, a driver in Baldwin City, Kansas, discovered that a doghouse on the porch of a house had caught fire. She threw it onto the front lawn, stomped out most of the flames, and called the fire department, preventing the fire from spreading to the house.
More Safety

What’s Behind HopSkipDrive’s Near-Perfect Safety Record in 2025?
The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.
Read More →2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide
Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.
Read More →
Child Safety Network Taps Dr. Michael C. Hout to Combat School Bus Stop-Arm Runners
Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.
Read More →
NTSB Determines Human Error Led to Waymo’s Illegal School Bus Passing
Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.
Read More →
National Action Plan Aims to End Illegal School Bus Passings Across the U.S.
See how a new 50-state roadmap outlines 69 strategies for districts, law enforcement, and policymakers to reduce the 39 million illegal school bus passings reported each year.
Read More →
11-Year-Old Student Dies After Falling Under School Bus
Recently, an Iowa student died after falling under a school bus, while 14 Oklahoma students were injured days later when a semi-truck rear-ended their bus.
Read More →
7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Fleet Technology Partner
Selecting a fleet technology partner can be complex, especially with evolving operational demands and limited resources. This white paper outlines seven key criteria to help school transportation leaders evaluate options and align technology with their needs. It offers a practical framework to support more informed decision-making.
Read More →
The Real Cost of Bus Fleet Downtime
When school bus communication systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond equipment repairs. Downtime can increase safety risks, strain dispatch operations, and erode driver confidence. Explore how proactive radio lifecycle management and managed services are reducing disruptions, supporting driver retention, and delivering predictable budgeting for school transportation fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven Launches New Council to Standardize Safety Across 36 States
EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.
Read More →
Thomas Built Buses Awards “If You Pass” Safety Campaign Funds to Ga. District
The OEM's three-week campaign during National School Bus Safety Week has awarded nearly $6,000 to Bryan County Schools to support increasing student safety around the bus.
Read More →
