Nov. 17, 2008 Stanborough Park, Watford, United Kingdom

ANN staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s headquarters for the United Kingdom and Ireland continues to smolder this morning following a fire that gutted much of the building yesterday afternoon, regional church officials report.

The fire, which began during maintenance work at the British Union Conference (BUC) administrative office, spread across the roof to engulf a major part of the building, officials said.

Fire crews were called to the scene on Sunday afternoon following reports of smoke emanating from the church building, BBC News reported. A fire crew spokesperson said the fire was already advanced when the crew arrived. 

Crew members from ten engines fought the flames all afternoon and into the evening, officials said.

Employees believed to have been in the building, located on St. Albans Road in Garston, are accounted for, church leaders said, adding that no injuries occurred during the fire.

BUC staff is meeting today to draw up plans to ensure that the work of the church in the region continues to move forward as soon as possible, said Victor Hulbert, BUC communication director.

“This will obviously prove a major disruption to our work,” he said. “However, we are relieved that nobody was hurt and we are already making plans as to how best to deal with the aftermath.”

Until the fire is fully extinguished and the building is declared safe, church officials say it is impossible to determine the extent of materials lost in the blaze.

Because phone and e-mail service is currently not working, the church’s South England Conference office will take messages on behalf of BUC employees.

Updates on the situation will be released by the BUC Web site.

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