An overnight explosion and fire blew a witness off his feet and destroyed a daycare centre on Ropewalk Lane in St. John’s at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
The man, and his female co-worker, told The Telegram they were just getting off work at a nearby pizza restaurant in the strip mall when they heard someone breaking glass at the side of Mother Hen’s daycare located at the end of the same mall.
The man said he then ran to the side of the business to check the commotion when an explosion ripped through the daycare. He said he was thrown to the ground when the blast blew open a nearby door, sending flames shooting outside. The two had called 911 to alert the authorities.
Acting platoon chief Chris Jefford of the St. John’s Regional fire department said that when they arrived on scene, they found heavy smoke and fire inside the daycare. Firefighters extinguished the fire but not before the business was gutted.
A business next door also received smoke damage as well as some damage as firefighters had to forcefully enter the building to make sure the fire hadn’t spread.
Both witnesses were shaken but were otherwise not injured and did not wish to be named.
The RNC is investigating the incident.
