Special Needs Bus Catches Fire in the Twin Cities

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) — Police are commending a school bus driver who evacuated four students — two of them in wheelchairs — after an electrical fire broke out on the bus in a northwestern Minneapolis suburb.

Officials say the driver also tried to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher while firefighters were on their way Thursday morning.

The driver, a nurse and all of the students aboard safely escaped.

Brooklyn Park Police Cmdr. Mark Bruley tells the Star Tribune the bus driver "did a nice job" and didn't hesitate.

The bus was operated by Cincinnati-based First Student and was taking special needs students to Elm Creek Elementary School in Maple Grove.

An Osseo (AH'-see-oh) School District spokeswoman says a new bus arrived to take the children to school.

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