Bus driver, passengers praised for putting out a fire on the side of the road

WATCH: A Vancouver bus driver and some of his passengers jumped into action when they saw smoke. Geoff Hastings reports.

VANCOUVER – A Vancouver transit bus driver and some of his passengers are being lauded for their quick actions in putting out a small fire.

The number 84 bus was approaching 6th Avenue and Moberly Road on Tuesday night when the driver, George Simnos, noticed smoke on the side of the road.

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He stopped the bus and hopped out, fire extinguisher in hand, and worked to put the smoldering grass out.

The passengers jumped into action too, going into nearby businesses and grabbing water to help out until fire crews arrived.

“I saw smoke coming off, just beyond the bushes,” said Simnos, who works for Coast Mountain Bus Company. “I had just passed the scene, I stopped my bus, I got the fire extinguisher and I just put the flames out.”

“There were still some little hot spots here and there so I did my best to just put it out with my foot. One of the passengers came out and he helped too, and another lady, she got a bucket of water from across the street from one of the restaurants.”