Christmas evening fire destroys Salvation Army building in Prince Albert

Prince Albert firefighters spent Christmas evening fighting a major blaze at the Salvation Army building on Central Avenue.

Crews were called to 900 Central Ave. shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday, the Prince Albert Fire Department (PAFD) said in a post on social media.

Arriving firefighters began an interior attack but switched to a defensive approach after heavy smoke and flames spread and the roof started to fail.

Crews stopped the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, but the fire department says the Salvation Army building is expected to be a total loss. Most of the roof collapsed and unstable exterior walls remain a safety concern.

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People are asked to stay away from the area.

PAFD says police have had a presence on scene throughout the evening and will continue to maintain safety and security throughout the day.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire department thanked the Prince Albert Police Service and Parkland Ambulance for their assistance.

The Salvation Army has long been Prince Albert’s only warm-up shelter and a cornerstone support for many.

Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) says the loss of the building leaves a gap in services for vulnerable residents during extreme cold.

It says as an immediate measure, the temporary warming shelter has been relocated to PAGC urban services, in the former Margo Fournier building.

It will operate nightly from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. until Jan. 2. Relatives Lodge is also available for warm-up.