ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- About 70 children were evacuated from an Alexandria day-care center Monday after a small explosion that shook the building, shifted non-load-bearing walls and caused ceiling tile to fall.
At about 11 a.m. the over-pressurization of a test cannon inside BAE Systems caused it to blow. The Happy Home Child Learning Center shares the building in the 1400 block of Duke Street in Alexandria.
Fifteen adults and 71 children were taken across the street to the Shiloh Baptist Church, which is affiliated with the day-care center. No injuries were reported.
The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. Alexandria's Office of Building and Fire Code Administration is investigating BAE Systems' compliance with city code. Neither BAE nor Happy Home is operating until the investigation is complete.
The damage is still being assessed. The 900 to 1200 blocks of Duke Street were closed in both directions for about 90 minutes.
Power to the building remains shut off until an electrical system inspection is complete.
