Daycare destroyed by fire in Montville

MONTVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) -- State police are helping investigate a fire which destroyed a Montville daycare center.

More than a dozen families were left looking for another place to bring their children.

The flames were ferocious. Neighbors near Creative Care Daycare in the Oakdale section of Montville first noticed flames coming out the front of the building Monday afternoon.

"Even from the few minutes that we were were standing there, the whole front of the building, the porch area and stuff had just engulfed," said Donald Lakowsky, neighbor.

Firefighters were able to bring it under control quickly, but not before it destroyed the daycare center leaving parents scrambling to find a place to bring their children.

"Right now I don't know," said one woman who wished to remain anonymous. "I called out today. Who knows for the rest of the week until...it's going to be flip floppy for about a month probably."

The woman would bring her daughter there in the morning, she would then catch the bus to afternoon kindergarten, and come back afterwards. She says parents are now stuck because the home daycares in the area are full.

"There's other daycare centers on the other side of town," the woman said, "but they won't bus over into a different district."

That woman's husband had picked up their daughter from the daycare around 5 o'clock Monday afternoon. Forty-five minutes later an automatic fire alarm inside the building went off and alerted firefighters there was trouble. No one was inside and fortunately no one was injured.

However, the business is ruined.

"We had thought they had sold the building because there was a for sale sign, but then the sign was gone," said Lakowsky.

News 8 was unable to get a hold of the owner, who is a friend of this parent.

"She's okay. I mean I'm sure she's upset," the woman said. "I haven't talked to her too much this morning, but she says she's doing okay."

If anyone has information about the fire they are asked to call State Police.