The monks at a burned-out Westminster Buddhist temple asked firefighters not to touch the Buddha statues in the aftermath of a devastating fire early today.
A 77-year-old monk, Ounkham Vennasack, is recovering from smoke inhalation and minor burns from the fire at the Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado at 10685 Dover St. said Diana Allen, a Westminster Fire Department spokeswoman.
He was inside when the fire started just before 6 a.m., but was waiting outside the temple when fire crews arrived.
“The building is a total loss,” Allen said.
Westminster Fire pulled down unstable parts of the building, so temple members could tend to the Buddha figures inside this afternoon.
“Firefighters made an extra effort to respect the religious nature of the building,” the department said in a media update at 3 p.m.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has joined the investigation, but Westminster Fire downplayed the significance of federal agents’ involvement.
“At this time there is no reason to suspect the fire was intentionally set but the fire is being fully investigated and only in the preliminary stages,” Westminster Fire said in an afternoon update about the blaze.
“ATF is on scene, but that is standard procedure. Westminster Fire appreciates the additional resource and will consult them as necessary.”
Sy Pong, a spokesman for the temple. said about five monks are typically assigned to the temple, which serves about 4,000 people from throughout the Denver metro area.
“We’re going to have to rebuild,” he said.
Westminster Fire said the building had no sprinklers or other modern fire suppression, but passed a safety inspection last summer.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
