A street ministry vows to rebuild Mountain Aire Lodge west of Sundre after a spectacular fire ripped through the building early Monday morning.

Just hours after the blaze swept through the restaurant, gas station and convenience store, Floyd Perras of The Mustard Seed Street Ministry in Calgary said rebuilding efforts are underway.

“It was our central hub of operation,” said the chief operations officer on Monday. “We’re working very hard at restoring the services because it’s really important for people from the streets to be working.”

Clients who are homeless come to the rustic setting to work on the grounds and to rehabilitate from addictions. About 25 people were staying at the site.

They work in the restaurant, kitchen and other facilities. Mustard Seed is also responsible for managing six campgrounds in the area.

“It’s certainly a huge shock,” said Perras. “I think some of them are struggling with it, but we’ve assured them we’re moving forward. And we’re going to rebuild and they’ll play a part in that.”

Counsellors were sent out on Monday and again today.

Donations have already come in to help the permanent staff and the 25 clients, designated as program staff. They include a trailer equipped with a kitchen.

“We’re hoping we can resume temporary operations, hopefully by the weekend,” Perras said.

The cost to rebuild is estimated at over $600,000.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sundre firefighters were called out at 4:40 a.m. after flames and smoke were seen billowing from the lodge on the banks of the Red Deer River.

“A passerby who was heading to a guide and outfitting camp called it in,” said fire Chief John Whitesell. “He went down to where the living quarters were and beat on a door until somebody woke up and answered.”

The building is in a remote location on a forestry trunk road 60 km west of Sundre.

By the time firefighters arrived 45 minutes later, there was little they could do.

“The building was already on the ground at that point,” Whitesell said.

Only some concrete walls remained, Whitesell said.

Half of the building was made of wood. Parts of the building were 60 to 70 years old.

“We put water on the propane tanks and cooled them down, and shut them off, and extinguished what was burning,” Whitesell said.

The Sundre fire department sought additional resources from a local water truck company.

Whitesell said there was nothing staff could have done to stop the fire once it was discovered.

“Without power, they wouldn’t have had any ability to pump water,” he said. “The power lines to the building were burned off.”

Whitesell said arson has not been ruled out.

The investigation has been turned over to Cammie Laird, regional fire chief for Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services.

No one was injured. A guard dog, Angel, is believed to have died in the fire.

The Mustard Seed program participants were staying in residences but were far enough away that they wouldn’t have heard the fire, Whitesell said.

One unit was also occupied in the 12-unit motel. It wasn’t in any danger, Whitesell said.

Mustard Seed had fire coverage on the site.

The Christian-based ministry bought the Mountain Aire Lodge property in 2006 for $1 million.

Anyone who wishes to donate money can do so online at www.theseed.ca.

Contact Laura Tester at ltester@reddeeradvocate.com.