Driver Evaucates Special Needs Students from Minn. Bus Fire

March 06--A school bus for special needs grade school students caught fire Thursday morning in Brooklyn Park, prompting the driver to remove four students, two of them in wheelchairs, and then vainly battle the flames with a fire extinguisher while firefighters were en route, officials said.

The driver, a nurse and all of the Elm Creek Elementary School students aboard escaped safely from the electrical fire, which occurred around 7:45 a.m. near Brookdale Drive and Yates Avenue N., said Police Cmdr. Mark Bruley.

"The bus driver did a nice job," Bruley said. "He didn't hesitate."

Bruley said the driver, who works for First Student, first detected smoke inside the bus and then saw flames coming from the firewall toward the front of the vehicle.

By the time firefighters arrived, the "bus was pretty much gutted," the commander said.

The bus was operated by First Student. Stephanie Creech, a company spokeswoman in Cincinnati, said drivers "are pretty well trained, so we expect that" they can handle these types of situations.

"The driver got both of the students in wheelchairs off immediately, then got the other two students off and grabbed the fire extinguisher," Creech said.

She said the driver, whose identity was not being disclosed, has been with First Student for six years and "is a very good driver, highly regarded, particularly now."

Osseo School District spokeswoman Barb Olson said the children waited 20 to 25 minutes until a new bus arrived and resumed their trip to the school about 5 1/2 miles away.

Upon arrival, the students were met by district staff "to check them out" and ensure they were fine, Olson said.

Investigators were inspecting the bus in their effort to learn how the fire started, Creech said.

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