Childcare group faces second fire in four days

Yahoo

14-07-2025

A childcare centre operator is dealing with a second suspicious fire in less than a week.
An automatic alarm alerted authorities to a blaze at Play to Learn Early Learning Centre's Castle Hill centre in Sydney's northwest early on Monday morning.
It followed a fire at Play to Learn's Turramurra facility on Friday the childcare operators labelled a suspected arson attack.
Minimal damage was recorded in both fires, with an automatic system protecting the Castle Hill facility when firefighters arrived at 1.30 am on Monday.
"Firefighters arrived to find a childcare centre which had an installed fire sprinkler system activated," Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Superintendent Mathew Sigmund said.
"(We) gained entry to the building and located what had previously been a fire, which had been extinguished by the installed fire sprinkler system."
Firefighters ventilated the building before handing the scene to police.
There were no injuries in either fire while in Friday's incident, the centre sustained fire damage to its foyer and outside, along with smoke damage throughout.
Operators of the childcare centre said a CCTV system captured the incident and they would work closely with police on the investigation.
Play to Learn Founder and director Jade Luci said the alleged arson was senseless and had left the community heartbroken.
"We have no concerns about safety when our families return, and we look forward to welcoming them back to a centre that remains as safe, nurturing, and connected as ever," she said.
Play to Learn has operated for 19 years and runs three centres across NSW.
Its Turramurra location opened less than two months ago.