Is “The Lost Bus” a True Story? Facts Behind Apple TV+ Film
The Lost Bus, a new film coming to Apple TV+, tells the gripping true story of heroism that unfolded during one of America’s deadliest wildfires. Directed by Paul Greengrass, known for United 93 and Captain Phillips, the movie follows a school bus driver (played by Matthew McConaughey) and a school teacher (played by America Ferrera) as they race to save 22 children from a terrifying inferno.
Based on the real-life bravery of bus driver Kevin McKay and details from Lizzie Johnson’s book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire, The Lost Bus is a heart-pounding tale of courage in the face of disaster. The Camp Fire, sparked by a Pacific Gas and Electric Company power line, destroyed everything in its path, including 19,000 structures, and tragically took the lives of 85 people.
McKay, who had only been driving a school bus for a few months, made a split-second decision to evacuate the children of Paradise Elementary when their parents couldn’t reach them. With smoke and flames surrounding the bus, McKay showed incredible ingenuity by using his shirt to create makeshift masks for the kids to breathe through.
Describing the harrowing experience, McKay recalled the fire “coming down in 1,000 places,” a sight unlike anything he had ever seen before. Despite the terrifying circumstances, he managed to get the children to safety, even as the landscape resembled something out of a nightmare.
The Lost Bus is a testament to the bravery and selflessness of individuals like Kevin McKay, whose quick thinking and determination saved the lives of 22 schoolchildren in the midst of a devastating wildfire. The film serves as a reminder of the extraordinary acts of heroism that can emerge in times of crisis.
