On the morning of Dec. 5, Denver’s Laotian community suffered an enormous loss: The Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado in Westminster burned to the ground as TV news helicopters circled the flames.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. The head monk, Ounkham Veunnasack, was treated for smoke inhalation, mild burns and frostbite but has recovered. Two other monks were in an adjacent building when the fire started and were uninjured.
The property lost in the fire includes Buddhist statues, artifacts and relics and traditional musical instruments. Some asbestos was found in the original part of the building, and it must be removed by a licensed contractor before any subsequent cleanup or work can proceed on the property. The asbestos remediation began last week. Once the cleanup is complete, the temple’s monks will hold a ceremony to begin removing the remains of the cultural artifacts from the site. The projected cost to rebuild the temple is estimated to be $500,000-600,000.
“Our loss is priceless but our gain is that this tragedy is bringing our community even closer together,” said Sy Pong, a spokesman for the temple.
The community is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the public, and from other Asian communities who have offered their Buddhist temples for worship, he added.
“The Laotian community thanks the Westminster Fire Department for their work in putting out the fire, and also for their cultural sensitivity in handling the artifacts and statues that are important to the temple traditions. We also thank the Westminster Fire Department also gave a generous $1,000 donation towards rebuilding the temple from its Fire Victims Relief Fund.”
A community meeting was held Dec. 11, and more than 100 people attended to learn the latest updates from temple leaders and the monks, and ask questions about the future of the temple.
The Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado is the “heart and soul” of the Laotian community, as many members are quick to acknowledge. The temple was not just a place of worship; it was a community center for cultural preservation through dance, music, storytelling, cooking and sports as well as providing youth programs, gang intervention and community services, with activities and members visiting throughout the day, all week long. The temple also took in homeless and visiting Laotians and served as home to many visiting monks from other institutes.
An account has been set up at 1st Bank under the name “Lao Buddhist Temple Fire Relief Fund” to accept donations, and money can be submitted at any 1stBank location. The Lao Buddhist Temple is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.
FIRE UPDATE:
• Currently no cause has been announced by authorities for the fire.
• Two of the three monks who live on the property were in an adjacent building at the time of the fire.
• The head monk, Ounkham Veunnasack, was treated for smoke inhalation, mild burns and frost bite but is fine. No lives were lost.
• Property lost include Buddhist statues, artifacts and relics and traditional musical instruments.
• The Laotian community thanks the Westminster Fire Department for their work in putting out the fire, and also for their cultural sensitivity in handling the artifacts and statues that are important to the temple traditions. They also thank the Westminster Fire Department for their generous $1,000 donation towards rebuilding the temple from their Fire Victims Relief Fund.
• There was some asbestos found in the original part of the building, and it must be removed by a licensed contractor before any subsequent cleanup or work can proceed on the property. The Lao Buddhist Temple of Colorado is working closely with authorities to accomplish this goal.
• Cost to rebuild the temple is estimated to be $500,000-600,000.
HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP:
• Donations can be submitted to the 1st Bank account under the name “Lao Buddhist Temple Fire Relief Fund.” The Lao Buddhist Temple is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your donation is tax-deductible.
• Replace the van used by volunteers to transport the monks.
There is a critical need for skilled professionals to join the cleanup and rebuilding efforts, and to offer legal and regulatory guidance. We need contractors, building assessors, professional help, financial oversight and architectural firms.
• A New Year’s Eve event originally planned as a celebration became a fundraiser on December 31 in Thornton, Colo.
For more information, contact Sy Pong at 720-210-7555 or [email protected] or Maly Khanthaphixay at 720-217-6142 or [email protected].
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