A Mississippi school bus driver was able to evacuate about 25 students from a bus as it caught fire on the way to a statewide student council convention over the weekend, according to a sheriff’s office.

The Poplarville High School students were headed to the event about an hour away in Ocean Springs on Saturday morning when their bus driver heard a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle, news outlets reported.

The driver pulled over to check out the bus and spotted flames erupting from an area surrounding a rear tire, Sgt. Chris Goff of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said. The driver immediately ordered all of the students off the bus and down the road as the fire quickly spread, the sheriff’s office added.

By the time authorities arrived, the fire had become “fully involved,” according to Fort Bayou Volunteer Fire officials.

No injuries were reported. Initial findings from the sheriff’s office indicated a mechanical problem caused the blaze, news outlets said.