Seminole school bus catches fire while taking students home, officials say

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. - Five people on a school bus were able to escape safely after the vehicle caught fire, officials say.

The Seminole County Fire Department said that a school bus had an engine fire while traveling on State Road 417. 

Rescuers say it was just before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday when three students, a driver, and a bus monitor were on the bus. All of a sudden, they started to smell smoke. They say the bus driver pulled over to the side of the highway immediately.

"They were lucky they got off quick!"  says Chief T.J. Martin with the Seminole County Fire Department. "It was a big deal. The driver said he heard a big pop when they were traveling down the 417 and he had the wherewithal to actually pull over quick enough to where they had enough time to escape the bus before it got into the part, where the students were sitting."

Photo from the Seminole County Fire Department

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The bus was transporting students from Endeavor School. Rescuers from Sanford and Seminole fire say no one was injured.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by both the school district and firefighters.

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