joconnell@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - Children will return to Tender Loving Care Child Care Monday morning now that tests have found no airborne asbestos contamination in the building following a recent fire.

The day care, which has a capacity of 140 children, is located in the basement of First United Methodist Church, 200 N. 15th Ave. The church sustained heavy damage to its chapel following a Sunday fire caused by a ceremonial candle. Fire officials said part of the ceiling above the day care sustained water damage.

"Everybody is just elated that it's going to be business as usual on Monday morning. It's been a really tough week," said Betsey Hale of Tender Loving Care Child Care. "We're just so happy we can open with a clear conscience knowing we're welcoming their children back into a clean and healthy environment."

Hale has scheduled a meeting with parents for 7 p.m. Monday night to answer their questions.

In addition to the air tests, samples of materials from within the building have been tested for asbestos. Pocatello Assistant Fire Chief Mike Williams said the only material found to contain asbestos was some wrapping covering a pipe, which tested as having 20 percent asbestos.

Williams said the room has been sealed off, and a temporary wall has been constructed to block the hallway entry. It may be possible to simply cover the asbestos wrap, he said.

"It will be up to the EPA at this point to determine if some abatement should occur," Williams said. "The asbestos itself was not involved in the fire. It merely received some water damage. … They're just going a step further than they have to go just to be extra safe. I wouldn't have an issue with having my own child in there at this point in time."

The Rev. Craig Strobel said a church breakfast scheduled for this Sunday in the gymnasium of the Methodist church will be rescheduled, likely for the second weekend in October.

Strobel said the church is considering the possibility of serving a smaller breakfast in the church parking lot this Sunday anyway for those who don't receive news in time of the change in plans.