Fire breaks out on Marion County school bus

OCALA, Fla. — A fire broke out on a Marion County school bus full of kids Friday.

All 64 kids and two adults on board were removed safely by the driver and driver's aide.

Three people, one adult and two students, went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators said a mechanical issue appears to have been the cause of the fire around 4:30 Friday afternoon.

The students didn't not have to be put on another bus because it was the last stop.

"It kind of exploded," student Jarkee Jacobs said.

Jacobs said there was a lot of smoke so they notified the bus driver and got off the bus.

"The fire started in the engine compartment, which quickly filled the bus with smoke," Battalion Chief Rick Doucett said.

Once they got the call, firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and quickly put out the fire.

Doucett added that a prompt evacuation of students and quick response by firefighters kept injuries and damage to a minimum.

"It was very frightening and very shocking," Jacobs said. "I'm very happy and thankful, that we were off that bus."

WFTV