Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

At 6:19 p.m. on Monday, 21 September 2009, the Bermuda Fire & Rescue Service received a report of a structural fire at the site of the Adventist Community Services Centre. The firefighters arrived within 7 minutes of receiving the initial call and were met with a fully developed fire.

Station Commander of the Hamilton Fire Station, Lt. Dana Lovell said, "Our firefighters were met with a fully developed fire located on the covered porch of the two storey Bermuda stone structure. Firefighters were initially advised by bystanders that there was a strong possibility that a person may have been trapped somewhere within the building. With this new information, our firefighters went into an offensive fire fighting mode and carried out a primary search of the building which revealed that the building was clear of casualties."

The fire was brought under control by firefighters at 6:51 p.m.  The fire was confined to the porch enclosure and its contents - mainly clothing. There were no injuries or lives lost from the fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Dr Lois Tucker, principal of Bermuda Institute and a few teachers were the ones who initially sounded the alarm from the school which is adjacent to the center. Shortly after, the James Water Service, operated by a Bermuda Institute alumni arrived and began attempting to extinguish the fire.

Also present to provide assistance were Mrs. Burnedette DeSilva, director, Community Services Center and several volunteers who were already making plans for a speedy clean up.

The Bermuda Conference Comunity Services Center was established 32 years ago and distributes mainly clothing and performs various other services across the island. About fifteen persons visit the site daily during the week and this number doubles on Sundays.