(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Emergency respone

Prince Albert Fire Chief responds to Salvation Army blaze

Dec 28, 2025 | 6:00 AM

With temperatures in the mid minus teens and windchills closer to -25C, members of the Prince Albert Fire Department were called away from their homes and families on Christmas Day to battle a fierce, raging fire at the Salvation Army building.

The end result was unfortunately a total loss of the long standing building but there have been no injuries reported and nearby businesses were saved. Reflecting back on the response effort, Fire Chief Kris Olsen confirmed for paNOW the environment had a significant impact on the team members.

“They’re spraying water and they are obviously getting wet and so we do our best to relieve crews out because you get chilled basically to the bone just being exposed to that water, mist, and the cold temperatures for sure. Then of course, there’s slip hazards and all that nice stuff that comes with that cold weather,” he said.

The initial call for help came in around 7:55p.m. and crews arrived soon after. Olsen who was at home with his own family was on scene within eight minutes and said the fire progressed very quicky.

He explained that when crews initially arrived on scene to investigate there was only a small amount of smoke visible on the main floor.and so there was an initial belief this was a fire they could mitigate quite shortly. However upon a further search of the structure, crews experienced heavy fire and it was not long after that heavy smoke was seen billowing from the doorways and windows and flames were shooting from the rooftop area.

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“The breach in that roof happened very quickly because that fire had been burning up in the structure itself and that’s where we went into defensive attack mode and that’s where your aerials and your platforms are critical to put water on the fire,” Olsen said.

Olsen explained that when it comes to “Legacy” buildings like the one that housed the Salvation Army, there are many challenges at hand as the building has gone through multiple renovations over the years and the fire can be almost hidden.

In terms of deployment, it was all hands on deck with three fully staffed units.

“One of our main concerns with that whole unit block that encompasses many businesses, is that those buildings are all adjoining and when you deal with the infrastructure such as that, one of the biggest concerns is that mitigation of the fire, moving from one building to the next.”

Fortunately crews were successful in containing the fire to the one building and Olsen said he is very proud of the aerial team that watched from above and helped members on the ground with containment.

On Saturday, a layer of snow and ice covered the debris. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The cause of the fire remains under investigation and Olsen confirmed that while the source was inside the building, it could be days or possibly weeks before they get any answers. Over the weekend investigators were on scene taking preliminary photographs.

“Something to keep in mind when you have a legacy structure like that with roof collapse, there’s a lot of work to peel away the layers and there’s a lot of work, heavy lifting to do to for inspectors or investigators to find that origin of that fire.”

In the meantime Olsen also acknowledged what a terrible loss this incident represents.

“You know we’re part of the community as well and our hearts go out to the Salvation Army. We know the work that they’ve done for decades and I think that’s going to be a great loss to the community.”

Olsen added some of the unsung heroes of the night that deserve credit are Sask Power, Sask Energy, Mobile Crisis, the city’s public works department, the city’s police service and Parkland Ambulance.

“On a fire such as this, we can’t continue to go on if we have live gas or if we have live power, and if the roads are slippery, and so I just want to throw a thank you to to those agencies for sure.”

In the days following the fire, local community groups and members have been stepping up in a big way and collecting donations, clothing and food.

Anyone wishing to help, can do so through the Salvation Army social media page. On Monday night, when the Raiders host the Swift Current Broncos, fans are encouraged.to bring blankets, toques, mitts, sweaters, etc.

Also, the Raiders will be donating half of their share of Mondays 50/50 to the Salvation Army.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell