Fire forces evacuation of child-care center

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A lateafternoon fire at the Kiddie Academy childcare and learning center in the Raintree shopping center, West Main Street, caused 25 youngsters to be removed from the school on Sept. 8.

The fire was quickly extinguished by the building's sprinkler system and no injuries were reported. There was minimal damage to the space that is occupied by the child-care center.

According to Chief Ralph Reifer of the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company No. 1, a call was received at 5 p.m. after a fire erupted in a storage closet.

Reifer said combustible plastics near a hot water heater caught fire when the heater backfired.

According to Reifer, Tom Luongo, a fire subcode official, was the first person to arrive on the scene. Reifer said Luongo determined that the fire had been put out by the sprinkler system and there was just a light smoke condition.

Monmouth County fire marshals were investigating the incident and the Freehold Township Health Department was also on location.

Firefighters from the East Freehold Fire Company, Freehold Township, also responded to the scene.

Reifer said the childcare center's personnel acted quickly to get the children out of the building safely.

Honey Meerzon, owner of the Freehold Kiddie Academy said, "The children

have fire drills twice a

month, so everyone was prepared and knew what to do. The children were outside singing the ABC's and 'The Wheels on the Bus.' "

Kiddie Academy enrolls children from infants through age 13.

Reifer said the building only sustained water damage.

National Restoration and Facility Services was employed to clean up the damage and began working immediately so the school could open as usual the following day.