Fla. School Bus Driver Saves 40 Students as Vehicle Catches on Fire: 'I Love My Kids'

Palm Bay Fire Rescue Facebook Florida school bus engulfed in flames

As soon as she saw smoke, one Florida bus driver quickly sprang to action, helping to save the lives of all 40 children on board.

Shortly after beginning her route on Tuesday afternoon, Janet O'Connell noticed smoke coming from the hood of the bus, Imagine Schools at West Melbourne told CBS affiliate WKMG-TV.

Immediately, she pulled over to start evacuating all of the kids, who ranged from being kindergarten to sixth grade students, the outlet reported.

RELATED: School Bus Driver Dies After Students Steer Bus to Safety During Medical Emergency

"This afternoon we had an electrical issue on one of our school buses that resulted in the bus having to pull over and evacuate," the charter school wrote in a statement on social media. "The bus did end up catching fire."

Palm Bay Fire Rescue Facebook Florida bus after flames

"We are blessed that everyone is safe," the school added. "This is due to the quick actions of our driver, Ms. Janet, and the students. We are proud that our students showed how they are leaders of great character as they assisted one another."

Praising the bus driver, school principal Brian DeGonzague told WKMG-TV, "When there's a child in need, she steps up."

RELATED VIDEO: 3 Dead, 24 Injured After Glacier Sightseeing Bus Rolls Over in the Canadian Rockies

Photos shared by Palm Bay Fire Rescue not only show the bus engulfed in flames but also the extent of the damage on both the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

"Shortly after 330 PM this afternoon, B-shift crews from Station 3 were dispatched to a school bus on fire," they wrote in a statement, noting that upon their arrival, the bus was "heavily involved with fire."

"Fortunately all 40 kids and the driver had evacuated the bus," they added. "No injuries were reported."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Palm Bay Fire Rescue Facebook Damage after school bus fire

RELATED: Bus Carrying Nearly 30 Middle School Students Crashes Into Penn. Creek, 'Minor' Injuries Reported

As for O'Connell, the school principal said the driver "doesn't want the spotlight on her."

"When I spoke to her about it, she said, 'Brian, I did what I did because I love my kids,' " DeGonzague told WKMG-TV.

''What she did was pretty incredible,'' the principal added.