The Jones County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a school bus on fire on Tuesday at 7:19am on Phillips Road East in southwestern Jones County.

Deputies arrived on scene and advised that the driver had evacuated all eight children on the school bus and moved them to safety. Volunteer fire units from South Jones Fire & Rescue and Southwest Jones Fire & Rescue arrived and extinguished the fully involved bus.

Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin notes, “Great job by school bus driver Ashley Renee McCullough in quickly evacuating the eight students and moving them to safety. Her actions were instrumental in avoiding any injuries to students and we commend her for her courage and quick thinking.”

Berlin adds, “We also thank the volunteer firefighters who responded to this incident. Day in and day out these community heroes respond to help others. Today was another example of their dedication.”

The Jones County School District dispatched a replacement bus to pick up the students. The bus that burned sustained extreme damage and had to be towed from the scene.

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Photos: Jones County Sheriff’s Department