PHOTOS: A Washington, D.C. day care center full of children was safely evacuated shortly before a gas explosion ignited a fire on the floor above and collapsed the building next door. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly spoke with reporters Thursday at the scene of the fiery blast in the 1200 block Marion Barry Avenue as firefighters continued to douse the flames with water. Crews responded to the busy southeast Washington neighborhood after receiving a call for a gas leak shortly after 9:30 a.m. The first responders determined that the leak was beyond repair and began evacuating buildings from the block. That quick thinking likely saved lives because about 25 minutes after that first 911 call, Donnelly said an explosion blasted the upper level of the two-story building where the day care was located.