‘Quick and heroic actions’ by driver, aide help Sayreville students off school bus fire
SAYREVILLE – Eight people, including six students from Emma L. Arleth Elementary School, escaped injury Tuesday afternoon when a school bus caught fire, authorities said.
Police and firefighters responded to the blaze that was reported at 3:55 p.m. on Louis Street, police said in a Facebook post.
All seven passengers and the driver escaped safely, authorities said.
"Thanks to the quick and heroic actions taken by the driver and aide, all the students and staff were safely evacuated from the bus before it was engulfed in flames," Superintendent of Schools Richard Labbe said in a statement. "As soon as the driver smelled smoke and saw it rising from the hood, she immediately pulled the vehicle over to a safe place and with the help of the bus aide, quickly and safely evacuated all the students from the minibus. The parents of all students were notified immediately."
Within minutes, a replacement bus returned all students to their homes safely, Labbe said.
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As of last night, the cause of the fire had not been determined, police said.
"According to our Director of Transportation, this is a new vehicle," Labbe said. "Therefore, we are at a loss as to why it combusted. Needless to say, once we tow it back to our garage, we will begin the process of investigating the cause of the fire."
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Sayreville NJ driver, aide help safely evacuate students in bus fire
