CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fire caused severe damage Thursday morning to a Charleston daycare center.
Firefighters were called to the Friendly Faces Daycare just before 7 a.m. The facility is located on Fledderjohn Road off U.S. Route 119. Two employees who were in the building to start the day made the startling discovery according to Charleston Fire Department Captain David Hodges.
“They noticed a haze of smoke throughout the building prior to even opening the doors, so they refrained from opening those doors which was a great idea,” said Hodges afterward.
The fire travelled through the walls and up into the roof, prompting fire crews to cut holes in the roof to vent the heavy smoke and fumes.
No children had arrived when the fire was discovered and the two employees were able to escape unharmed.
“It was a great time for it to happen. There were fire alarms activated. I don’t know if they were calling out, but there were audible alarms,” he said.
The area became very congesting as unsuspecting parents started showing up to drop off their children and found the facility surrounded by fire trucks. Parents were forced to make other arrangements for their children for the day. Owners have been approached by a number of other daycares and business owners offering facilities for their operations as they work toward a rebuild.
A cause fore the fire is not known.