Calling it a “Christmas gift” Toronto Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop says it’s a miracle there were no injuries after an explosion destroyed a day care in the city’s east end.

All the children at Sunshine Learning Centre  on Kingston Road near Morningside Avenue have been returned to their parents and an investigation is underway.

Deputy Chief Jessop says that dozens of children, who would have been in the daycare building, were thankfully in a nearby building at the time of the explosion that caused catastrophic damage.

“Anyone in that unit at that time based on what I personally observed would have suffered significant, significant injuries, the entire unit has been destroyed,” said Jessop. “The situation is absolutely stabilized, we have cut the gas and hydro supply to the building and the gas readings show no other readings.”

A few adults received only minor injuries. Prior to the blast there were reports that the area smelled like gas.

The Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating.