A Mom Became an Actual Superhero When a School Bus Caught Fire
It started as just another weekday in Bethel, Minnesota. Kari Thorp stepped outside to meet her six-year-old daughter as the yellow school bus pulled up, unaware she was seconds away from becoming a real-life hero.
As the kids were stepping off, something caught her attention: a faint wisp of smoke curling from beneath the front of the bus. Then came the flicker of a flame above the tire. Kari shouted “Fire!” and ran toward the bus, waving to get the driver’s attention. What happened next was captured on her Ring doorbell camera and shows just how fast things escalated.
Racing Against the Flames
@fox9mnA quick-thinking mom helped avert a potential tragedy when a bus caught fire in East Bethel. Kari Thorp noticed flames near the bus tire, and immediately alerted the driver. Her quick actions ensured that all the children and the driver got off the bus safely. A week after the incident, the community came together to express their gratitude. They presented the bus driver with a “thankful basket” and surprised Thorp with one as well.♬ original sound – FOX 9 | KMSP
The footage shows Kari sprinting toward the smoke as it thickened. Working alongside the bus driver, Rick Gratton, she began ushering students off one by one. Some of the children froze, confused by what was happening, but Kari’s voice kept them moving. She later said all she could think about was getting them off that bus before it exploded.
Within minutes, all 22 East Bethel Elementary students were safely off. Kari led them to her front porch, where some kids were crying and clutching their backpacks. Moments later, the tires began to burst from the heat, and the flames grew so intense that the asphalt beneath the bus started to melt. By then, the vehicle was completely destroyed.
A Close Call That Could Have Ended Differently
Looking back, Kari admitted she had no idea how fast the fire could have spread. She told viewers that she just reacted on instinct, powered by adrenaline. “I didn’t know what was going to happen,” she said. “I just wanted to get them off as quickly as we can.” It’s chilling to think that if she had stepped outside just a minute later, the story could have ended in tragedy.
Rick was also quick to respond by keeping the bus doors open and helping guide students to safety. Both he and Kari were recognized by St. Francis Area Schools and honored by the community for their quick thinking. Local firefighters later confirmed that the fire likely started in the front wheel well due to an electrical malfunction.
Preparedness Meets Parental Instinct
Image via Getty Images/fotostorm
The students had recently completed a school safety course on emergency evacuations. Those lessons, combined with Kari’s sharp eye and fast response, made the difference that day. Parents who viewed the doorbell footage online filled the comment sections with gratitude, calling Kari a hero for saving not only her daughter but every child on the bus.
Experts describe something called the “mental load” of motherhood, the constant awareness that keeps moms alert to every detail. Research from USC Dornsife and psychologist Anna-Maria Occhiuto has shown that this cognitive responsibility strengthens a mother’s ability to react quickly under pressure. Kari’s instinctive decision to act without hesitation reflected that sharpened awareness that comes from years of parenting vigilance.