Here’s a news story with a rare happy ending.

During this morning’s rush hour, a bus driver and monitor helped three special needs children, ages 3 to 5, off the bus after it caught fire.

Firefighters with the O’Fallon Fire Protection District extinguish a bus fire this morning. (Photo courtesy of the O’Fallon Fire Protection District)

The driver smelled the smoke as she was approaching a stop, Avery said, and she and the bus monitor immediately began escorting the children off the bus.

“They had them off before they even saw flames,” Avery said.

When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were erupting from the bus, melting the engine, dashboard and most of the seats inside.

“It was a hot, hot fire,” Avery said.

None of the children was hurt. Avery credited the bus driver’s training in getting the kids off quickly.

And because it was rainy and cold this morning, some neighbors let the kids stay in their house to dry off and warm up as they waited for a second bus.

The students were heading to United Services, an early childhood education school near the Winghaven subdivision. The bus was part of the Fort Zumwalt School District’s fleet.

Apparently, the bus driver likes to keep a low profile, though. She didn’t want to be interviewed about her act of heroism.