A school bus driver in Jackson Township in Ohio is being hailed as a hero after risking his own life to save others including a dog during a house fire, reported The Washington Post.

According to the news report, 54-year-old Todd Morris, a retired police officer and current school bus driver, was heading home from a doctor’s appointment on Jan. 22, when he saw smoke rising into the sky from a house.

Temperatures that day were subzero, which closed school. Morris was in his personal vehicle when he came upon the fire.

Morris told local news reporters that as soon as he turned a corner, he saw the house of two of the children on his normal elementary school bus route on fire. He stated he knew that the students were off that day as well and probably home.

Morris stopped his car, got out and sprinted toward the house as he dialed 911. He told local news reporters that he started knocking on the door and yelling out the kids’ names.

Because there was no response, Morris said he relied on his police training and kicked in the locked door, forcing an entry into the residence. The smoke was getting heavy, but after a few minutes into his search, he found two terrified dogs.

The dogs taken outside of the home safely and Morris went back in to clear the residence. By the time the kitchen ceiling began to collapse, and the second floor was fully engulfed, Morris evacuated and the fire department showed up to put out the flames.

According to the article, residents Matt Fisher and his wife were at work when the fire broke out. Their four children were with their grandmother, who was taking care of them while school wasn’t in session.

Fisher told local news reporters that once he learned about the fire, he panicked because he knew the dogs were there. The family also had a cat, which did not survive the fire. Still, Fisher said he is grateful to Morris for saving his dogs and alerting authorities of the fire, which remained under investigation at this report.

Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Named “Hidden Hero” After Saving Student’s Life
Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Fire
Related: Louisiana School Bus Driver Hailed Hero
Related: Texas School Bus Driver Named “Hero” for Saving Choking Student

The post Off-duty Ohio School Bus Driver Saves Student’s Dog From House Fire appeared first on School Transportation News.

The family of a girl who was saved by her school bus driver on Jan. 10 spoke out about the experience, reported WKOW News.

The incident reportedly occurred hen 9-year-old Cathryn Dornacker was on board an Adams-Friendship School District bus and accidentally began choking on part of her bracelet while on her way home from school.

According to the news report, the driver, Jamie Smoczyk, stopped the bus and jumped into action by performing the Heimlich Maneuver on Dornacker.

Dornacker told local news reporters that she was making a bracelet with the “C” clip when the bus stopped, and she accidentally swallowed it.

In a surveillance video recovered from the bus, Dornacker’s brother Jonathan, is seen yelling at Smoczyk that his sister needs held. He told local news reporters that his sister’s face was turning red, and she fell on the ground right before Smoczyk heard his screams and quickly came to aid the child.

Despite the traumatic experience, Dornacker’s parents were grateful for the school bus driver’s heroic actions.

Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Named “Hidden Hero” After Saving Student’s Life
Related: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes: California’s Top School Bus Drivers Honored
Related: Teens Hailed Heroes in Kentucky School Bus Crash
Related: Louisiana School Bus Driver Hailed Hero

The post Wisconsin School Bus Driver Saves Girl from Choking appeared first on School Transportation News.