North Charleston Police Arrest Woman After Fire Erupts at Residential Apartment Housing Unregulated Daycare Facility

Janaina Ferreira faces eight felony counts after North Charleston police find children abandoned in a burning apartment used as an unlicensed daycare.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 11:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FOX Carolina

Emergency Response Reveals Abandoned Children in Smoke Filled Residence

Public safety officials in North Charleston were alerted to a structural threat on Thursday afternoon when a residential fire alarm was triggered at a local apartment complex. Firefighting crews and police officers arrived at the scene around 2:30 p.m. to discover a hazardous situation where the building's internal safety measures had already been activated. Upon entering the dwelling, responders were confronted with the sight of eight children left entirely unsupervised in a unit where an active fire had recently occurred, raising immediate alarms regarding the safety and oversight of the occupants.

Automated Fire Suppression Systems Prevent Potential Loss of Life

The outcome of the incident was largely mitigated by the building's automated sprinkler system, which successfully extinguished the flames before fire crews gained entry. While the physical damage to the structure was contained, the presence of nearly a dozen minors without adult supervision necessitated a secondary emergency response from social services. Investigation into the cause of the ignition pointed toward a specialized aftermarket knob installed on the kitchen stove, which appears to have malfunctioned or been improperly handled, leading to the thermal event that triggered the sprinklers.

Sudden Return of Caretaker With Additional Minors in Tow

As law enforcement secured the perimeter and began assessing the welfare of the children found inside, 29 year old Janaina Ferreira returned to the apartment. Officers noted that Ferreira arrived with several more children in her care, further complicating the scene and reinforcing suspicions that the residence was being utilized for high volume childcare. This development prompted an immediate verification process to identify the families of all children present and to determine the legal standing of the operation being conducted within the private residence.