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School bus driver gets hero's welcome from students she saved

LANHAM, MARYLAND — A school bus driver who helped save 20 elementary students from a burning bus got a hero's welcome this week.

When Renita Smith walked into Glenarden woods Elementary School in Lanham on Wednesday, she never imagined she'd walk in to the sounds of drums, trumpets and cheering students.

The Prince George's County bus driver is being called a hero.

Earlier this month when her school bus caught on fire, she saved the 20 kids on board.

"The thing was in flames," says 5th grader Jordan Richard, "and it could've exploded."

"To make doubly sure she had gotten each and every one of them, Renita went back into that burning bus," says Dave Zahren. "Imagine that."

Those 20 students, now 20 smiles saying 'thank you' to their hero.

Each of the more than 300 kids held up a 'thank you' sign for their hero bus driver, a celebration honoring a bus driver who goes above and beyond.

Renita Smith, looking at the outpouring of affection, says to the crowd: "I promise I didn't do it for this. I did it because that's what I am supposed to do.  I'm a mommy... And mommies look out for her babies."

A mom, that day, to 20 more.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.