Bus Driver And Passenger Rescue Residents From Blazing South Shore Fire

March 7, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Chicago.

In a heartwarming tale of courage and quick thinking, a hero bus driver and a compassionate passenger teamed up to rescue residents from a blazing inferno in South Shore, Chicago, early Monday morning.

hero bus driver
Adamopoulos / Credit: ABC 7 Chicago

Anastasios Adamopoulos, a 63-year-old South Shore resident and CTA bus driver, became an unexpected hero as he navigated his usual route. Approaching the horizon, an orange glow caught his attention, and within moments, he realized it originated from a massive fire engulfing two homes.

"The flames were reaching for the heavens, that's how intense it was," Adamopoulos told the local news station.

Without a second thought, Adamopoulos halted his bus and, alongside a courageous passenger, rushed towards the burning residences. Their immediate actions involved banging on doors and shouting 'fire' at the top of their lungs, ensuring all occupants were alerted and safely evacuated.

"We started banging on doors and yelling ‘fire, fire, fire!' at the top of our lungs, just trying to wake as many people up and alert as many people as we possibly could," said Adamopoulos.

Remarkably, Chicago police reported no injuries resulting from the fires that erupted around 2 a.m. in the 8000 block of South South Shore Drive. While fire officials continued their investigation into the source of the blaze, Adamopoulos confirmed that approximately 14 individuals, including children, successfully evacuated the two homes.

After ensuring everyone's safety, residents sought refuge on Adamopoulos's bus while firefighters valiantly battled the flames. Displaying remarkable compassion, Adamopoulos dedicated approximately 45 minutes to comforting the anxious residents as they observed firefighters working to salvage their homes. Once the immediate needs were addressed, he seamlessly resumed his bus route.

"I don't think I did anything more than what the next guy would do," he humbly asserted.

Watch the good news video below.