Fire destroys Vancouver Sikh temple that was under construction
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VANCOUVER, Wash. - A Sikh temple and school that was under construction in Vancouver went up in flames early Friday morning and essentially burned to the ground.
Two workers who were inside the Guru Ram Das Church at Northeast 20th Street escaped the blaze, which began around 2:30 a.m. and moved fast throughout the entire building.
The workers were staying overnight at the church as a security measure and head contractor Leo Mikhailod said he woke up to popping sounds.
"And when I got out to try to figure out what the noise was, I open the door, I smell the smoke," he said. "I was yelling at the second person who was sleeping. I wake him up and I saw flames going through the bottom floor."
Mikhailod said he tried to run a water hose down to the bottom floor but the flames were just too intense for it to do any good.
Some firefighters said they've never seen a fire that strong, and one that spread as fast as it did. When crews arrived, they said they had no chance of saving the church.
The building used to house the Landover Athletic Club and was being remodeled as a church and school. Church members had spent years raising $500,000 to build the facility and hoped to have it open by December. Many church members who went to the scene of the fire were devastated by the loss.
A photo showing what the building looked like before the fire (courtesy of the Clark County Auditor).
Agents from the ATF, FBI, Vancouver Fire and Vancouver Police Department are all involved in the investigation. It is standard procedure for the ATF and FBI to look into a fire like this that involves a place of worship, and where the cause is unknown.
By Friday afternoon, the building was still too hot for firefighters to enter, even after crews had spent all day dousing the flames to try to cool it down.
Members of the temple believe the fire might have started in a downstairs bathroom but investigators have not confirmed that.
Vancouver Deputy Fire Marshall Chad Lawry said there have been some problems at the homes of neighbors near the church, including mail theft, break-ins and tire slashings, but nothing associated with the church itself.
Mikhailod said he was suspicious about the fire because it moved so fast.
"I would say in two minutes, the flames were all over the place," he said. "I mean it's dry weather, but it's really strange."
"We want to think that it is an accident - a really bad accident," said Pawneet Sethi, a spokesperson for the Sikh temple. "But if it turns out to be anything else, it's going to be a shock."
Temple members said they could not help but think about a shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin in August.
There were people in the neighborhood who opposed the temple. They were worried about traffic and a lack of fire hydrants, according to The Columbian.
I'll lay $$$ to doughnuts that this is arson. I'll also say that the person who set this (if found to be arson) is an evil person. I can't wait for the State&Feds report of this.
So were there sprinklers installed in the building? When remolding are not sprinklers required by law? Someone could have discarded soiled rags improperly in the waste can instead of placing them in a metal rag can and keeping them outside of the construction area. someone could have smoked in the bathroom and discarded it in the trash. Be Careful People when you remodel or smoke.
I'm hoping it was an accident; I've known and worked with Sikhs and in my experience they are among the most peaceful and tolerant people around. Thankfully the folks got out in time. I hope they rebuild soon!
How sad, I hope they had insurance. If this turns out to be arson, I hope the pyro who set it burns.
I do hope this was just a random accident.
To show intolerance for another based on their religion is simply un-American.
@Mikey Errrr, you mean like all those folks yapping about Romney being a Mormon?
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Just sayin....
If it was arson, I sure hope they catch the sick sucker who sacked the Sikh temple!
My first thought, too, was arson... fire spreading that fast usually means accelerant (and some "human help")... I'm glad no one was injured... If this was, in fact, arson, I hope they catch whoever did it; arson is among the very worst of crimes.
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Also the fire can take on certian traits of the people who set them. I hope this is NOT arson. But the fire was to mean not to be. That was an Evil Fire.Look at the pictures.
I confess - my first thought when I heard this news was arson. I hope and pray I am wrong and this fire was accidental. Do I agree with the teachings of Islam? No. I am a Christian and found much of what little I have read of the Koran offensive.  I also firmly believe in the First Amendment and a person's God-given right to choose what they will believe. Disagreeing with a person's beliefs does not give one the right to destroy another person's property (and in this case, endanger lives).
 @theprodigal These are Sikhs not Muslims. fool.
 @theprodigal its sikhism....we are not islamic. Our holy book is the Guru Granth Sahib. I dont know where you got islam in this haha
 @theprodigal its sikhism....we are not islamic. Our holy book is the Guru Granth Sahib.Â
@sukhusingh Thanks for the correction. There is a branch of Islam called Shia and I think I was confusing the two.
 @theprodigal  @sukhusingh Its totally fine:)
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 @Ray  @theprodigal I know Sikh isn't Islam but I don't know the beliefs of the Sikh faith either.
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With all of the faiths out there, it's possible to be confused. A quick Google may have been prudent. But the message is the same: theprodigal may not share the same beliefs as those of the Sikh faith but he still doesn't want it to be arson.
 @soulmom  @nonpartisan ~  Very well said, soulmom...  I don't care what religion is involved... that doesn't give anyone the right to burn down or otherwise destroy their property.  Arson is especially bad, because there is always the possibility of the fire spreading to other buildings, including homes, and the arsonist(s) often do not know (or care) if the buildings are occupied.Â
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It will be interesting to see the report when the investigators have finished their work.
 @nonpartisan Its not about sikhism or Islam or any other religion, its about right and wrong and most importantly about humanity.
Nice name calling against someone who was defending the first amendment.
 @Ray  @Civ I have been to this place several times, at first I heard through my dad "its an islamic church", being naturally curious,  I came down to my old club, and saw the word "sikh". I knew right there it wasn't islamic, and googled Sikh, "learned quite a bit about it". The manager Leo was cautious but friendly, allowed me to visit my old club, it had alot of work to do, but at least I found my old locker from 15 years ago , (even remembered the combonation) and got my dad's racket & goggles back. I am glad I did this in time, I was strongly hoping the sikh wouldn't have to go through "islamic hate crimes" just because their religion LOOKS like theirs, but is not the same at all. My heart goes out to the Sikh.
 @Civ Issue isn't with the first amendment genius it's with confusing Sikhism and Islam. Durr....
thats just sikh
 @LostSoul Not even REMOTELY humorous.
@Mikey @LostSoul Aww c'mon, it was *a little* funny....
I am not at all religious, but I sincerely hope that none of our local nut-jobs started this fire.
I agree also, we in America (most) are better than that.
 @al_02 Agreed. I don't wish this on any facility, religious or otherwise. I'm hoping this was an accident.
 @nonpartisan  @al_02 it spread really fast, so no.
 @Falkor  @nonpartisan No data to base this on, but buildings under construction can burn much faster than you'd expect. Open walls, lack of drywall, all sorts of things make natural chimneys that can accelerate a fire.
"Lowery said there have been some problems at the homes of neighbors near the church, including mail theft, break-ins and tire slashings, but nothing associated with the church."
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So that sentence was included in the story because...?
 @Kennyboy To add the context that the area was not problem-free.
Why are workers sleeping where they work? Â Sounds strange.
The story said they where there fo security reasons. Cheaper to have workers stay then to hire security guards.
 @sortbait Worker, not workers. The manager Leo, slept in the small tanning room, obviously to prevent thefts, or taggers. in this case, he is now an Witness to the "popping sounds", hope they get whoever burned down my old club, i had so many good memories there.
 @sortbait It happens everywhere to prevent theft. Not strange at all.