Fire damage keeps Morley Recreation Centre closed

A fire this weekend in Morleyhas destroyedthe community's recreation centre and two young men from the area have been charged with arson.

• Morley Recreation Centre fire nets charges against 2 men

The recreation centre was theheart of Morley's communitythe place for weddings, funerals, and gatherings.

But at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, part of the recreation centre was up in flames.

Dwayne Clayden,director of emergency services in Morley, saidit was very hot and very smokey when the first crews arrivedso it had been burning for a while. Crews stopped the fire before it spread too far into the gym or arena.

An hour later,a grass fire burned in the Bearspaw Flood Relief Camp.

Twomen, aged 18 and 19, are expected in court next month, charged with arson, break-and-enter with intent to commit arson, and beingunlawfully in a dwelling house.

Tasina Pope, who works with youth to help them find summer jobs, said some of the teenagersin the community have no direction.

"It's kind of devastating to see that they're bored," said Pope. "It'sjustbecause they don't know what to do with their life, really."

For now youthin Morley will have one less entertainment option the gym will need to be repaired before they can use that space again.