A northwest Iowa babysitter is being credited for acting quickly to save even children in her care when her van caught fire.

According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s office, 36-year-old Tara Dekkers was driving a 15-passenger van about six miles southwest of Sioux Center on Friday when she heard a pop and the inside of the van started to fill with smoke. Dekkers immediately stopped the van and removed the seven young children she was transporting. The van soon became completely engulfed in flames. No one was hurt. The van is considered a total loss.

According to the sheriff’s office, it appears a mechanical failure caused the fire.

(Reporting by Doug Broek, KSOU, Sioux Center)