huffingtonpost.com

Central Catholic High School’s junior varsity football players probably weren’t expecting to make a pitstop on the side of the highway while traveling to an away game. But that’s exactly what they were forced to do after the football team’s bus caught fire on Highway 26 in Oregon.

In video footage of the fiery incident, members of the team are seen standing on the roadside as emergency responders work to douse the blazing bus. Firefighters are finally able to extinguish the flames after several minutes.

According to KATU, the charter bus driver pulled over and helped evacuate the players after a fire broke out and quickly spread up the sides of the vehicle. Though they tried to put out the fire with fire extinguishers, the flames were too big, so the driver — and passersby — called for help shortly before 5 p.m.

Firefighters said that the blaze started in the engine compartment. They later told local Fox affiliate KPTV that a faulty battery was to blame.

Steve Pyne, Central Catholic’s head football coach, confirmed that the 40-some players and two coaches on the bus were evacuated safely.

“Everybody is safe,” Pyne told Oregon Live. “By every account, from parents and the people who were there, they did a phenomenal job of getting the kids out and to a safe area. So I’m pretty proud of them.”

The junior varsity team’s football game against Eugene’s Sheldon High School was canceled, since they were stranded on the side of the highway for some time, but it will be rescheduled.