A Buffalo, N.Y., bus driver who spotted a fire while he made an early morning run may have saved the lives of 10 people, a resident of the burning house said.

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Richard Lucas told WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, he saw smoke coming out of the back of a house at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and decided it "didn't look right." He stopped the bus and got out, leaving a full load of passengers, and hammered on the door.

Juan Huertas, who lives in the two-family with his wife and three children, said later Lucas saved all their lives. Emily Hunter, who lives upstairs with her three children and a nephew, called the bus driver her "guardian angel."

Once he knew everyone was awake and safe Lucas got back in the driver's seat and continued on his way.

"I knew I had to be at the Victory Center," Lucas said. "People have got to go to work. That's what we do."