Dramatic video captures school bus explosion in Hammonds Plains

Andrew Sampson · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 13, 2025 12:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 13

Chase Valiant was successful the mediate of making an day snack erstwhile his time took a melodramatic turn.

"I was conscionable making guacamole, going astir my day, and I heard a large bang," helium said Friday, a time aft the incident.

He rushed extracurricular his home, located connected a quiescent thoroughfare successful Hammonds Plains, N.S., only to find a schoolhouse autobus engulfed successful flames, with heavy achromatic fume permeating the air.

"I was shocked, and I was conscionable thinking, hoping, that everyone had gotten disconnected the bus," helium said. 

The bus, which was taking simple students location from Hammonds Plains Consolidated School, was evacuated soon earlier the autobus caught occurrence connected Thursday afternoon.

But Valiant didn't cognize that astatine the time. It was lone aft helium got confirmation that cipher was on the autobus that helium started taking video. 

In doing so, he captured different large bang connected camera, documenting the infinitesimal erstwhile the beforehand of the autobus exploded again, sending flames, smoke and debris soaring.

It took immoderate clip earlier the occurrence was extinguished, helium said, and crews were inactive cleaning up the country connected Friday morning. 

"A autobus exploding," said Valiant. "Can't accidental I've ever heard of that happening."

Students remained calm, says principal

In an email, Lynn Corkum, the school's principal, told parents the autobus operator pulled implicit connected Carnoustie Drive and got each the students disconnected safely after noticing fume coming from the engine. 

"They remained calm and followed the driver's pb successful a precise scary situation," said Corkum. "I americium arrogant of everyone involved." 

RCMP successful Halifax say they responded to a study of the incidental astatine astir 3:40 p.m. connected Thursday.

There were nary injuries owed to the occurrence itself, but 1 younker suffered insignificant injuries during the evacuation. 

Lindsey Bunin, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, said the incidental is being investigated.

"We are grateful to the driver, schoolhouse leaders, and families for handling the concern with large care," she said.