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Girl, 4, Dies After Day Care Fire

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The Associated Press

Published: July 12, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - A 4-year-old died Friday after a fire at her day care that sent thick, black smoke billowing from the windows and roof, police said.

Authorities aren't sure what caused the blaze around 1 p.m. at Stepping Stone child care center. Police said 37 children were inside. They did not know how many adults were supervising them.

The children, who range in age from toddlers to 4-year-olds, were being carried and led out by hand as firefighters and police arrived, said Tallahassee police spokesman David McCranie.

The children were taken to a business next door, where staff members conducted a head count.

"While they were counting, a 3-year-old raised her hand and said, 'Grace is not here,'" McCranie said.

A child McCranie identified as Grace Chen was found unconscious several minutes later and rushed to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

"The children, several of them were crying hysterically, but everyone was doing very well," McCranie said. "The staff was doing a good job of keeping them together, consoling them and leading them out."

The Tallahassee Fire Department is buttressing the building with wood so it doesn't collapse when investigators go inside to investigate. An autopsy for Grace likely will be today.

Linda Netherton is listed as the director on the center's Web site. A telephone message left at her home was not returned Friday night.

The Department of Children & Families was also on-site and interviewed staff members.

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