Calif. School Bus Driver Saves Home From Fire

Nov. 26, 2010
SHAFTER, Calif. -- Roseann Rios has been working with the Kern County superintendent of schools for the past 23 years. She was on her early morning rounds on Nov. 22 in Shafter, driving special needs children to school. As the bus approached a pickup point at a home on the 700 block of South Shafter she noticed smoke coming from the mobile home where the family of her student lived. Rios told the Bus Aide to watch over the kids.

SHAFTER, Calif. --

Roseann Rios has been working with the Kern County superintendent of schools for the past 23 years. She was on her early morning rounds on Nov. 22 in Shafter, driving special needs children to school. As the bus approached a pickup point at a home on the 700 block of South Shafter she noticed smoke coming from the mobile home where the family of her student lived. Rios told the Bus Aide to watch over the kids.

"I didn't even think about it. I just reacted and jumped off my bus with the extinguisher. I ran in the house and headed towards where the smoke was and the fire," said Rios.

The dryer had caught on fire on the side of the mobile home. Rios was ready to fight the blaze, but first she made sure everyone got out safely.

"One of the brothers was still in the bedroom asleep so I approached the mom and I told her to get all the kids out, so she went and got them," said Rios.

While some may consider her a hero, she said she feels like it was just the right thing to do. "I don't feel like I'm a hero. I think their mom is a hero because she is a single mom," said Rios.

Transportation Services Director Paul Linder said Rios will likely be considered for the Driver of the Year Award by The California Highway Patrol.

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