Everyday Heroes: How Two Men Saved 20 Children from a School Bus Fire
It started as an ordinary morning for Carlos Perea Romero and Angel Zarco—just another workday among tractors and fields. But that day, ordinary turned extraordinary. Smoke curled into the early sunlight, and the two men stumbled into a nightmare: a school bus filled with twenty children was moments away from becoming a fiery tomb.
Quick Thinking in the Face of Danger
MADERA, Calif. — On September 4, 2025, what could have been a tragedy became a story of courage, thanks to two local farmworkers. Carlos Perea Romero and Angel Zarco were honored by the Madera County Board of Supervisors for saving the lives of the children aboard a Madera Unified school bus that caught fire on the way to school.
The morning had begun like any other. Romero and Zarco had met to fix a broken tractor when Perea noticed smoke rising from the school bus. Without hesitation, the men ran to the scene.
“We just wanted to make sure the kids were far enough away to be safe,” Zarco recalled.
“One more moment could have been disastrous,” Romero added.
Navigating through thick smoke, they evacuated all the students—including those seated in the back—just as the bus was consumed by flames, its bright yellow exterior turning to charred gray within minutes.
Community Recognition
CAL FIRE Division Chief Larry Pendarvis highlighted the gravity of the situation: “Buses can be replaced, but humans cannot.”
Perea and Zarco’s bravery was recognized in a formal ceremony attended by county officials, including Sheriff Tyson Pogue, who said, “We are profoundly grateful to these two men whose quick thinking and bravery saved over 20 children.”
For Romero, the recognition carried personal weight: his daughter witnessed her father’s courage celebrated in front of the community. Reflecting on the event, Perea said, “I truly believe God put us there for a reason—to help the kids and protect our community.”
Everyday Courage
The story of Carlos Perea Romero and Angel Zarco is a testament to selflessness, courage, and the extraordinary power of ordinary people. In mere moments, their decisive actions transformed potential tragedy into triumph, reminding us all that bravery often emerges when we least expect it—and that protecting others is the truest measure of heroism.