Nine children and several adults escaped from a Northwest Baltimore day care center yesterday after a fire broke out in the rear of the three-story building.

None of the employees or children - who ranged in age from 6 months to 5 years -was injured in the two-alarm blaze that began shortly after 11 a.m. in the 2300 block of Ocala Ave. in the Liberty Square neighborhood near Mondawmin Mall, according to Chief Kevin Cartwright, a Fire Department spokesman.

A firefighter suffered minor burns to his hand while fighting the blaze at Little Bear's Den Learning Center, Cartwright said.

Cartwright said a day-care employee noticed smoke in the rear of the building, and about the time an employee from Mount Lebanon Baptist Church next door began knocking on doors to alert people in the house.

The employees and children - including a parent who happened to be in the day care center - left the building calmly, Cartwright said. An employee told authorities that fire drills had been held with the children.

Anita Moyd, an executive assistant to the church's pastor, said she saw the smoke at the day care center and ran over and began ringing doorbells.

She helped escort the employees and the children to the church, where they waited for firefighters to arrive.

"They were fine and orderly," said Moyd. "They got their shoes and their coats. ... They weren't panicked. One wanted to walk instead of be carried."

Officials reported moderate damage, mostly to the rear of the second floor.

The second floor is occupied by the building's owner, Carl Hicks, and his wife, who said they were not home at the time. Hicks, who works at Coppin State University, said he has owned the property since 1995. The day care center has been in the building since 1996, he said.

Hicks said he did not know the cause or where the fire started.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he said, shaking his head.

Employees at the day care center could not be reached for comment.

gus.sentementes@baltsun.com