A North Vancouver daycare at Norgate Community Elementary school has been destroyed after a fire broke out early Saturday morning.
Firefighters say they were called to the scene just before 4 a.m. when a taxi driver saw the fire and called 911.
Crews say when they arrived at the scene, located at 1295 Sowden Street, heavy smoke and flames were billowing from the series of mobile homes put together to house the daycare.
Crews say the building wasn’t monitored by an alarm and it was lucky the taxi driver happened to discover the fire.
Due to the severity of the fire, crews had to fight the fire from the exterior.
Asst. Chief Mike Cairns says the daycare has been heavily damaged by the fire and it will be difficult to determine the origin or cause of the blaze.
The elementary school that is right by the daycare centre sustained no damage.
The daycare was vacant at the time of the fire and no firefighters were injured.
Crews are working on hot spots and will be on scene throughout the day.
Lisa Hubbard with North Shore Neighbourhood House that runs the daycare centre says the loss of daycare space is devastating.
“There are over 35 families that use this daycare. It is their home away from home. We are very happy that no one was hurt in the fire, but other than that, it is still quite shocking,” says Hubbard.
Hubbard says they will be trying to accommodate affected families.
Meanwhile, police tell Global News there have been reports of vandalism and break-ins that happened at the centre prior to the fire.
PHOTO GALLERY: Fire and damage at the North Vancouver daycare
Comments