Daycare suffers smoke damage

The Nature Childcare Center in Columbia Falls suffered an electrical fire Saturday, Feb. 4. The fire didn’t destroy the building, but it did cause heat and smoke damage, leaving the center temporarily inoperable, according to Aleigha Russell, who works at the center.

Columbia Falls Fire Chief Rick Hagen said the blaze started at a battery charger. The security system detected the fire. Once the alarm went off, police and the owners arrived.

Hagen said they put the fire out by dumping a water cooler over the area. The fire was contained within the east side of the building, but two classrooms were unsalvageable due to heat and smoke damage.

Due to support and donations from the community and a round the clock effort by center employees, the daycare was up and running again within two days after the fire, according to owner Shanelle Swift-Palmer.

Swift-Palmer said the center will be moving into a new temporary location on Nucleus Avenue. She expects renovations of the damaged center to be complete in around 60 days.

Some items still needed include Pack ‘n Plays, high chairs, activity mats, blankets, clothes and art supplies.