A South Carolina bus driver and teacher Teresa Stroble was able to evacuate all 56 students from a smoking bus in minutes before it went up in flames.
The fire happened Tuesday around 7 a.m. in Duncan, S.C. The school district shared on Facebook that students were headed to an elementary school, an intermediate school for fifth and sixth graders, and a freshman academy.
Bus driver Teresa Stroble jumped into action when two ninth graders told her they saw smoke in the back of the bus.
"Teresa Stroble, a 7 year veteran driver and teacher assistant for our district, did exactly as she was trained and quickly and calmly evacuated all 56 students from the bus, and got them to a safe location," the Facebook post reads. "She is a true hero!!!"
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
District Five Schools of Spartanburg County has many reasons to be grateful today! This morning, just after 7:00 a.m., one of our buses carrying students on their way to Duncan Elementary, Beech Springs Intermediate and Byrnes Freshman Academy, caught fire.
Two 9th grade students immediately noticed the smoke, and alerted their driver. Teresa Stroble, a 7 year veteran driver and teacher assistant for our district, did exactly as she was trained and quickly and calmly evacuated all 56 students from the bus, and got them to a safe location. She is a true hero!!!
We are so thankful for the quick action of the Duncan Fire Department in putting the fire out, and all district administrators who responded and helped with what could have been a very tragic situation.
As all of our school buses are owned by the state of South Carolina, the investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing, and will be completed by staff at the state level. We are so blessed that all of our students, and Ms. Stroble are safe!