MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A potential nightmare for Madera Unified parents was prevented by a pair of unexpected heroes.

On Tuesday, the brave men responsible for saving the lives of 20 school children were honored by the Madera County Board of Supervisors and others.

September 4 started as a typical workday for Carlos Perea and Angel Zarco, until Perea noticed smoke coming from a Madera Unified school bus traveling near Avenue 8 and Road 23.5.

Without a second thought, the pair jumped into action.

"We were just making sure the kids were far away enough so that they wouldn't get hurt," Zarco said.

They alerted the driver and began evacuating the students inside, working through thick plumes of smoke to get to the students in the back row.

Moments later, the bus was quickly covered in

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