A gas leak culminated in an explosion at a daycare center in Southeast D.C., leaving behind blackened and charred walls in place of the leveled building. The incident, which occurred on the 1200 block of Marion Barry Avenue, also severely damaged the adjacent “Baby Einstein Child Development Center,” a daycare that had been an integral part of the Anacostia community for over a decade. The blast from the explosion prompted the quick evacuation of 16 children, including babies, by the center’s owner, Regina Snead, and her staff.
Regina Snead recounted the moment they sensed danger, stating, “We smelled gas, and my first instinct was, ‘let’s get the kids out.’” The surveillance video from inside the daycare captured an empty room bursting into flames and being rocked by the explosion. Acting swiftly, the staff helped the children put on their coats and covered them with blankets as they moved outside into freezing temperatures. A nearby smokehouse provided shelter for the children while they waited for their parents to pick them up.
Firefighters are currently investigating the gas leak, which is believed to have originated after a car crashed into an external gas meter. With the daycare center destroyed, parents are now facing the challenge of finding alternative childcare options. Community leaders, including ANC Commissioner Robin McKinney, are working alongside the mayor’s office and local agencies to assist families in locating suitable childcare facilities. Parents will receive expedited emergency vouchers to use at available childcare locations, with an emphasis on finding places close to the Anacostia Metro stop to minimize disruptions to family commutes.
Commissioner McKinney emphasized the goal of ensuring the children are placed in safe environments without causing undue inconvenience to parents. Efforts are also underway to support Regina Snead in finding a new space of her choice to continue her childcare services. To aid in rebuilding her business, Snead has initiated a GoFundMe campaign, expressing the emotional toll of witnessing her establishment, built over a decade, deteriorate, calling the experience “scary and sad.”