Monk dies after fire in Buddhist temple

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By Rosalio Ahumada
rahumada@modbee.com

Friday, Sep. 18, 2009

CERES -- A Buddhist monk died today after he inhaled smoke as he and others tried to put out an accidental electrical fire at their temple, fire officials said.

The monk was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said Fire Battalion Chief Bryan Hunt. The victim's name was not available early this evening.

No one else was harmed in the fire, which was reported about 3:40 p.m. at the Cambodian Buddhist temple in the 3800 block of Roeding Road, just east of Mitchell Road and the Ceres Christian Church.

The fire was apparently smoldering in the room for hours before temple members noticed the smoke.

Hunt said the fire was caused by an electrical overload in a back room. The room was used for temple members to worship and was filled with religious items.

Temple members, including several Buddhist monks, grabbed garden hoses and sprayed water on the burning room.

Hunt said it appeared the monk who died was attacking the fire from outside the room when he collapsed. He said the man inhaled a lot of smoke.

Temple members had extinguished the fire by the time firefighters arrived, Hunt said. The flames did not spread to any other areas of the temple.

It appeared that most of the religious items inside the burning room were not damaged. Hunt said the fire caused an estimated $2,000 in damage.