Fire destroys Salvation Army base
Bosses at the Salvation Army today spoke of their devastation after a charity base was destroyed in an arson attack.
Yobs set fire to two wheelie bins in Faraday Road, Stafford, which spread to the building used as a church and community centre, causing the entire roof to collapse.
The base is used by hundreds of residents each week including two stroke clubs, a speech management group, fellowship circles, a school, worship and occasions such as funerals, wakes and marriage ceremonies.
Police say they are investigating the fire which happened in the early hours of yesterday morning and another in nearby Crooked Bridge Road, although they won't say if they think the two are linked.
Linda Downward, officer in charge of Stafford Salvation Army, said: "I'm completely devastated. I got here at 2.45am and couldn't do anything but watch the building go up. I watched the roof collapse as the fire spread.
"It's a wonderful building and it was used by the whole community."
Fiona Love, who works as a volunteer at the base, added: "We are heartbroken but we will prevail. This won't stop us.
"We will continue. What we do here is not just about the building itself. It's about the church and about the people we support and we won't stop that."
Police cordoned off the detached building and parts of its grounds as they carried out an investigation.
See also: Arson attack damages Stafford shop.
Firefighters from Stafford, Rising Brook, Stone and Longton were sent to tackle the blaze just after 2.30pm. They left the scene shortly after 7am.
The Salvation Army was due to celebrate its 30th anniversary at its Stafford base in November.
A structural expert from the Salvation Army has been into the building to assess the damage.
