Firefighters vent the roof of Lakeland Learning Center during an early morning fire Thursday, Aug. 31.

“How quick those fire employees got here was amazing”

SYRACUSE — Four fire departments and two law enforcement agencies responded to a fire at Lakeland Learning Center, a preschool and latchkey facility located at 1205 N. Long Drive, Syracuse.

A staff member at the center noticed fire coming from a hallway overhead light fixture about 7:15 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.

All 16 children, aged 6 weeks to 5 years, and five staff members who had already arrived at the facility were safely evacuated to St. Andrews United Methodist Church, about 300 yards north of Lakeland.

While parents arrived at the church to retrieve their little ones, firefighters from the Turkey Creek, Benton Township, North Webster and Milford departments battled the ensuing fire.

Members of the Syracuse Police Department and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department were on hand to assist the staff and children.

No damage report was available when this article went to press.

The evacuation along the connecting sidewalk to the church went according to a well-practiced but never-used emergency plan.

“When the alarm goes off, the children know to immediately line up at the door,” said Rhonda Urick, assistant director. “This is part of our regular training and we conduct regular drills.”

“In all our years, since 1973, we have never had to use our emergency plan,” said Lakeland board member Ann Van Dyke.

Nevertheless, “they got the children to the church like a well-oiled machine,” according to a sheriff’s deputy on the scene.

Urick lauded the first responders’ actions. “The first detective was here within three minutes of the 911 call.” she said.

Turkey Creek was the first fire department on the scene.

“How quick those fire employees got here was amazing,” said Urick.

Firefighters battle a fire from the playground area of Lakeland Learning Center Thursday, Aug. 31.

The center typically serves 35 children a day. Parents who arrived to drop off their children after the event were turned away.

Lakeland will remain closed until “the board and director meet to decide when to reopen the building,” said Urick.

McDonald’s of Syracuse delivered 60 breakfast sandwiches for the children, staff and first responders.

Further details will be posted when they are received.