Foundation Academy students, staff safe following bus fire

On the morning of Thursday, March 7, 16 students and staff members from Foundation Academy were on their way to the airport when their bus caught fire. 

All of the students and staff members are safe, and arrangements have been made to continue their trip. 

Foundation Academy President Dave Buckles was one of the staff members on the bus.

He shared this correspondence with his staff shortly after the incident: "God is Good! We are on the bus headed to the airport and should make it. This is a recap of the team in action.

"On the ground, everyone reacted well," he said. "The only vocal command was to get off the bus. It’s on fire, and it’s not a joke. The kids did great. I started throwing luggage out the back while the front of the bus was on fire. Christie and Maria knew what to do. Parents were notified immediately. All luggage with passports is saved. Back home, Krystal is working the phone with Airlines, and Lilly is working on insurance. Robert is working to get the bus to us, and as we are driving working the phones to get transportation for all events impacted. Communications went out. ... I want you to know our folks rock! I’m beyond blessed to have witnessed this team in action. We should not be surprised, but it is great to witness!"

The Lions were headed to start their journey to the Dominican Republic to work with New Missions, a program that establishes local churches and Christian schools in Haiti and the Dominican Republic to help provide children with education, food and medical care.

School officials took to social media to share the news, announcing the fire was due to engine troubles. 

"Please pray that they are able to get to the airport in time to catch their flights and that the trip goes smoothly from this point," the post reads. "We know that God isn't surprised by this turn of events and that it is all part of His master plan!"