An early morning fire badly damaged an Emmet County church and preschool.

The fire started in the downstairs kitchen of Cross Pointe Christian Fellowship. A worker from the preschool noticed the fire around 7:15 this morning in Petoskey.

Crooked Tree Preschool and Childcare is run in the basement of the church.

The fire chief says by the time they got there, heavy smoke filled the inside of the church. The basement has water, heat and smoke damage.

The sanctuary is dirty from smoke and residue. Investigators are looking for a cause.

The church is working to get everything cleaned up for a Sunday service. Preschool is cancelled until at least Friday.