A Gaffney firefighter climbs down after checking for any electrical problems above the suspended ceiling of the building that serves as home for the Cherokee County Head Start program. The young children attending the program were evacuated Monday when a burning smell was noticed but firefighters couldn 't determine where the smell originated. Though the building was deemed safe, the children were sent home for the day. Children attending Cherokee County Head Start on West Rutledge Street had to be evacuated from the building Monday morning after a burning electrical smell prompted fears of a structure fire.

Gaffney firefighters responded in full force, with all their equipment, but found no fire.

Still, the Head Start program was closed for the rest of the day.

Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis said there was a faint electrical smell when firefighters arrived but the source wasn’t found. Ellis said firefighters checked out the heating units, the lighting system and the electrical circuit boards but saw no problems.

“We’re going to give the building back to them,” Ellis said as firefighters were packing up their gear. “But they chose to send the children home.”

- Tim Gulla