A school bus with Boston students coming back from a field trip erupted in flames on I-93 in Dorchester Monday afternoon, sending four students to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The charter bus carrying 8th grade students and staff from Boston Public Schools’ Josiah Quincy Upper School caught fire near exit 14 on I-93 north — as passing motorists saw smoke billowing from the yellow bus.

All of the students and staff were able to evacuate the bus before it caught fire, school officials said.

“Four students were taken to a local hospital for further medical evaluation due to smoke from the fire,” Heads of School Richard Chang and Stephen Cirasuolo wrote to families in a letter.

Boston firefighters were able to extinguish the bus blaze. They needed an engine company and ladder truck to bring a water supply from below the highway.

The bus was not a part of the Boston Public Schools’ fleet of yellow school buses, and was chartered through an outside vendor, officials emphasized.

“School Leadership was immediately notified of the matter, and State Police, EMS, and Boston Fire Department responded to the scene to provide assistance,” the heads of school wrote. “A substitute bus took all students and staff back to school.

“Any student in need of support is encouraged to speak with a member of the Quincy Upper School Student Support team,” they added.

Photos and videos of the bus fire went viral on social media.

Insane video of school bus fire on I-93 Northbound in Boston. I believe everyone was off the bus safe. #boston #fire pic.twitter.com/U5hwtv0Vlg

— Christian Nachtrieb (@chrisnachtrieb) June 17, 2024

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Traffic on I-93 north was impacted by the bus fire.

“In #Boston, bus fire has closed all lanes on I-93 NB at exit 14. Traffic is being diverted off I-93 NB at exit 13 to Morrissey Boulevard,” the Massachusetts Department of Transportation posted after 3 p.m.

All lanes were reopened by 5 p.m.