Five Children Escape Safely as Electric School Bus Catches Fire

Photo: AP

On a calm Tuesday morning in Montreal, a scary event happened involving an electric school bus. The bus carried five children and their driver. Luckily, all of them escaped safely without any injuries after the bus caught fire. This happened near the corner of Victoria Avenue and Jean-Talon Street West in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood.

The children were going to Felix Leclerc Elementary School. The bus is owned and operated by a transportation company working for the Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM), which manages many schools in Montreal.

The driver noticed something unusual: a strange smell and smoke coming out of the vents inside the bus. He quickly decided to stop the bus on the side of the road. Without wasting time, the driver safely guided all five children out of the bus and led them to a nearby apartment building, keeping them away from danger.

After everyone was safe, the driver called emergency services. Firefighters arrived quickly to fight the fire that had started in the bus. They worked hard to put out the flames, which badly damaged the passenger area. The fire burned many parts of the bus, destroying windows and charring the inside.

Officials confirmed that the fire was not caused by the bus’s battery system. The bus is electric and uses a big battery to power it. Luckily, the battery stayed safe and was not damaged in this fire. Instead, the fire appears to have started in the bus’s heating system, which the driver had just turned off before noticing the smoke.

This is not the first time a bus made by this company, LION Electric, has caught fire. In November 2024, another electric school bus caught fire in Ascot Corner, Quebec. Back then too, the fire was linked to the heating system and did not reach the battery. The driver was alone at that time and escaped safely.

LION Electric is a company that makes electric buses. They once faced financial problems and had to go through creditor protection, which means they were reorganizing their business to stay alive. In May 2025, a group of investors revived the company and promised to gradually restart bus maintenance and improve their products.

When asked about the fire, the company said it is investigating to understand why the fire happened. They thanked the driver and the firefighters for their excellent work and quick response.

Parents of the children were very worried but relieved after learning no one was hurt. They were informed about the incident right away. Another bus was sent to pick up the children and take them to school safely so their day could continue almost as usual.

This incident has raised questions about the safety of electric school buses. Many people wonder if extra care or changes are needed to avoid such fires in the future.

Electric buses are becoming more common because they help reduce air pollution and fight climate change. They do not use gasoline or diesel and are better for the environment. However, this accident shows that electric buses must be carefully maintained and improved for safety.

Experts say that, like all vehicles, electric buses need regular checks to ensure parts such as wiring, heating, and batteries are working properly. Problems with heating systems can be a fire risk, so companies must be extra careful.

The quick thinking and calm action of the bus driver prevented any injuries or worse in this incident. His decision to stop, evacuate the children, and call for help shows how important being alert and prepared is in emergencies.

Montreal’s fire department praised the driver and stressed that safety is the number one priority. They also reminded people to be careful and watch for any signs of trouble in vehicles.

In Quebec and other places, electric buses are part of a push to modernize school transportation. Governments are investing in cleaner buses to protect the environment and children’s health.

While this fire was scary, it also highlights the importance of proper maintenance and quick response to keep passengers safe.

The investigation at the bus company and by safety officials will continue to find out the exact cause of the fire. This may lead to safety improvements and new rules for electric school buses.

This event serves as a reminder: even vehicles designed to be cleaner and safer must be watched closely to prevent accidents.

A fire started in an electric school bus in Montreal early one morning. The bus driver noticed smoke and stopped quickly to get five children and himself out safely. Firefighters arrived and put out the fire, which started in the heater, not the battery. The bus was severely damaged, but no one was hurt. The bus company is investigating what happened and plans to improve safety. This shows how important quick action and safety checks are with new technologies like electric buses.