A Buddhist monk and a Thai national were killed in a massive blaze that engulfed a Thai Buddhist temple in the Bronx, New York, on Wednesday morning (local time).
The fire broke out around 6 a.m. inside the Wat Usa Buddhayaram Buddhist Temple, then spread to an adjacent home and quickly escalated.
Photo by FDNY
The Siam Town US Facebook page identified the victims as Pra Maha Direk Chompunid, a monk, and a visitor known only as Pat.
According to the temple’s Facebook page, it is the first Thai Buddhist monastery in the Bronx, founded in 1965.
Fire officials reported that the blaze was caused by a space heater placed too close to combustible materials. Their efforts were hampered by a car blocking the nearest fire hydrant.
Photo by FDNY
FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said, “When you park on hydrants, it slows us down, and when you're fighting a fire, seconds count.”
Roma Rampersaud, who runs a daycare near the intersection of 180th Street and Anthony Avenue, told Spectrum News NY1 online, “They were really nice people.” She was referring to the victims who had lived inside the temple where the fire began.
“I’m so sad right now,” said Mayuree Sriphirom, the temple’s treasurer.
Niramon Zucker, a member of the temple’s congregation, said the monk brought peace “to everyone.”
“I’m still in shock,” she said. “I just can’t believe it.”
Zucker said she had visited the temple on Tuesday, the day before the fire, to bring food to the monk. But one thing she noticed struck her: a car blocking a fire hydrant across the street.
“I looked at the car and said, ‘That’s so funny.’ Well, not funny, but—like, a fire hydrant, oh my God,” Zucker said.
