Mesquite school getting help after devastating fire

MESQUITE, Texas - The private Christian school and child care center in Mesquite that was destroyed by a fire is getting some help from neighbors.

A nearby church, First Baptist Meadowview, has opened its doors to help out the Appleseed Academy.  The church will provide temporary space that should be ready for students on Wednesday.

"They called us on Friday and we started moving in on Saturday, getting the classrooms ready," said Barbara Kilpatrick.

About 50 children and staff were able to get out of the school as soon as the smoke alarms sounded last week. The building was a total loss but no one was hurt.

But for now, the staff is happy to have a place to keep teaching and taking care of kids.

"To go from losing everything less than a week ago to having a place that we could call home... Thank God because I think He has had his hand in all of this," Kilpatrick said.

The city’s building department has control of the burnt building now. When engineers declare it structurally sound, it will be turned over to the fire department.

Investigators will then be able to look for the cause of the fire.