The entire 13,000 square foot Salvation Army building was gutted by fire on Dec.25, 2025. The cause is still unknown. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW)

By Teena Monteleone

a place to warm up

Salvation Army confirms temporary location at Union Centre on 8th St. E. following devastating blaze

Jan 1, 2026 | 5:16 PM

While the cause of a devastating fire that destroyed the Salvation Army in Prince Albert on Christmas night is still not known, what has been determined is a temporary location for the organization that so many depend on.

Starting tomorrow night, Friday, Jan. 2, what services the Salvation Army can still provide will be offered from the Union Centre on 8th St. E., next to the Legion.

Ministry Lead Major Ed Dean said he is grateful for Prince Albert Grand Council Urban Services which opened it’s doors to their building immediately after the blaze, but with the holidays coming to an end, their own programs will resume.

“So, we’re transitioning from that space and [on Friday] the overnight warming centre will be in the Union Centre,” said Dean.

The Salvation Army’s meal program will also continue to be offered six days a week from the temporary location.

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“It will cost us. We owned our building at 900 Central Avenue and now we’re having to lease space and that will cost money,” said Dean.

The Salvation Army in Prince Albert was reduced to charred rubble following the fire Christmas night. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW)

Prior to the fire, the 13,000 square foot Salvation Army building on Central provided a space for worship services, showers and laundry facilities. There was also a commercial kitchen and donations like clothing and Christmas Toys were stored in it. All that’s left standing is a frozen ruin of blackened beams. Fire investigators are still determining the cause, but it’s evident the building is a total loss. Dean expects the insurance process to take a while.

“What insurance allows and what is the actual are not always the two that match. And, so what that will look like, we don’t know…but we are grateful for the donations.”

Dean said monetary contributions will be the most helpful right now. Accepting donations like clothing may be a challenge since they have no place to store it.

He thanked the community for coming together so quickly. The Church of the Nazarene has opened it’s doors to the Salvation Army so they can still have worship service and office space.

“That’s greatly appreciated because the church is our foundation. Everything we do, it springs from our foundation.”

The only thing that may be salvageable from the fire is the sign above the entrance. Once the investigation is complete, Dean hopes to retrieve it and use it wherever they end up rebuilding – so the long-standing organization can continue serving the community.

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com