Dramatic video captures school bus explosion in Hammonds Plains

Chase Valiant was in the midst of preparing an afternoon snack when his ordinary day took a sudden and unexpected turn. “I was just making guacamole, going about my day, and I heard a loud bang,” he recounted, reflecting on the events that transpired the day prior.

Without hesitation, Valiant hurried outside of his home, nestled on a serene street in Hammonds Plains, N.S., only to be met with a distressing sight. A school bus was engulfed in flames, thick black smoke billowing into the air. “I was shocked, and I was just hoping that everyone had managed to escape the bus,” he recalled.

The bus, which had been transporting elementary students from Hammonds Plains Consolidated School, had been evacuated just moments before it caught fire on that fateful Thursday afternoon. However, Valiant was unaware of this at the time. It was only after receiving confirmation that all passengers were safe that he decided to document the scene by capturing a video.

In a startling turn of events, he managed to record another explosion as the front of the bus erupted in flames once again, sending debris flying amidst the chaos. It took considerable time for the fire to be extinguished, with cleanup efforts still underway the following morning.

“A bus exploding… can’t say I’ve ever heard of that happening,” Valiant expressed in disbelief.

Despite the harrowing situation, the students remained remarkably composed, as affirmed by Lynn Corkum, the school’s principal. In an email to parents, Corkum revealed that the bus driver had promptly pulled over on Carnoustie Drive upon detecting smoke emanating from the engine, successfully evacuating all students to safety.

“They remained calm and followed the driver’s lead in a very scary situation,” Corkum stated. “I am proud of everyone involved.”

Authorities from the RCMP in Halifax responded to the incident report around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday. Fortunately, there were no injuries directly related to the fire, though one youth sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process.

Lindsey Bunin, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, assured that a thorough investigation into the incident was underway. “We are grateful to the driver, school leaders, and families for handling the situation with great care,” Bunin expressed.

The resilience and quick thinking demonstrated by all parties involved in the face of such a terrifying ordeal serve as a testament to the importance of preparedness and swift action in times of crisis.