Pastor Dean Waddell, director of the Westminster Rescue Mission, said that the community has been incredibly supportive since the Rescue Mission's thrift barn burned to the ground late Friday.

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, the Westminster Fire Company was dispatched to 643 Lucabaugh Mill Road where the Rescue Mission's thrift barn was engulfed in flames.

The fire was contained with the assistance of approximately 100 firefighters on 42 pieces of apparatus. Assistance was received from 12 of the 14 fire departments in Carroll County along with stations from Baltimore County and York County, PA.The fire was under control at 11:45 p.m.

Waddell said what was most important was that no one was injured in the fire. He said that the barn that burned down was used to sell and store furniture and other donations from the community.

The Westminster Rescue Mission offers support and programs to men battling addiction and homelessness. Waddell said they also have a food box distribution program to help provide food to those who need it in the community.

Waddell said he hopes the community will continue to support The Spare Room, 128 West Main St., a thrift shop owned and operated by the Westminster Rescue Mission.

"Our operations will continue," Waddell said. "It's been a setback but in the near future we will look to rebuild and make it bigger and better and continue to help our community."

A cause for the fire has not been determined. Waddell said that the building was secured at 4:45 p.m. Friday.

"We're hoping that people continue to support us," Waddell said. "We've been working for the past year and a half on a revitalization of our mission and ministries and we will continue."