Twenty-four children from Flory Academy, a science and technology magnet school in Moorpark, were on their way to the California Science Center when their bus suddenly caught fire on the Hollywood Freeway (Highway 1010) at Universal Center Drive at about 9:00 a.m. Cathy Peters, an accompanying teacher noticed smoke coming out of a vent near the driver. She moved the students to the back of the bus with the help of parent volunteers. When the smoke did not stop, the emergency exits were opened and the bus was evacuated.