Church members prayed beneath an outdoor tent yesterday after a three-alarm arson blaze gutted the main auditorium of the First Southern Baptist Church early Friday morning.

The church, located at 445 E. Speedway Blvd., is frequented by UA students, according to pastor Ron Hart.

The fire caused no injuries, but damage estimates range from $600,000 to $1 million, said Captain Randy Ogden, a Tucson Fire Department official.

This is the second arson fire in the University of Arizona area in one week. Portions of the old Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building, 1302 E. North Campus Dr., burned in another arson blaze Feb. 4.

A church member who lives adjacent to the property heard glass breaking and explosions between 5 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. Friday, said David English, the church school administrator. The resident then called 911.

"The fire was contained to the main worship building," said Tucson Police officer Richard Anemone.

Hart said the church often suffers petty crimes, but nothing this major has occurred before.

"We are the target of pretty regular vandalism, breaking and entering and burglary," he said. "It goes with the area."

English stated the church received no threats prior to the incident.

"There was no warning whatsoever," he said. "This catches everyone by complete surprise."

But Hart was optimistic about the future.

"We'll have to make some adjustments," he said. "The church is not the building. The church is the people."

"We'll either restore or rebuild," English said.

After the service yesterday, some church members were also in good spirits.

"We have a lot of joy in our hearts," said Lisa Lash, a 10-year member who was married at the church. "The devil may try, but he will not get us down."

"We're shocked, but not devastated," said George Lash, her husband.

Arson investigators from the Tucson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are proceeding with the case, Ogden said.