Prince Albert Salvation Army fire could be arson, fire investigator determines

A warm-up shelter in Prince Albert, Sask. Has found a new home after its previous location burned on Christmas Day.

Since a Christmas night fire destroyed its building, the Prince Albert Salvation Army building has had to move several times to continue offering services.

Jan. 2 it moved from the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) Urban Services building to the union centre next to the Legion.

“The Salvation Army, we overcome and adapt where we need to, and we’ve adapted to this location,” said Prince Albert Salvation Army Major Ed Dean.

“Programs and services still need to go on because those that we serve still need those same services.”

• Get the latest news from Saskatchewan, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

In a post on Facebook, the Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District says the fire was human-caused, following an investigation by the Prince Albert Fire Department.

PA police will now investigate the blaze as an arson to determine if it was deliberately set.

Dean says he was shocked to learn someone may have purposefully set the shelter on fire — that someone would burn down a building that’s meant to help people.

He says he’s provided camera footage to investigators.

Dean says the Salvation Army’s daytime and overnight warming centres, along with clothing and meal services are now operating out of a new location at the union centre.

“Two of the services that we are not able to deliver is our shower program and our laundry program, because our building is not set up for that.”

He said the Salvation Army is allowed to stay at the union centre until September, and is leasing the building on a month-to-month basis.

The Prince Albert Grand Council lent its Urban Services building as a temporary location for the overnight warming centre following the fire that destroyed the Salvation Army building.

YWCA CEO Donna Brooks says its important for a city to have overnight warming services.

“It is a necessity to survive,” said Brooks. “If someone doesn’t have a place to keep warm, they’re going to do everything possible to ensure that they are warm, and that could be breaking into your home or your business.”

The Salvation Army said it will remain working in Prince Albert, but it’s too soon to know where the permanent location will be.

-With files from The Canadian Press