The San Jose Fire Department in California, US, received multiple calls reporting a fire at 5:30 on 5/1 at Duyen Giac pagoda on Foss Avenue. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had spread throughout the two-story pagoda, causing its roof to completely collapse.
The fire was contained by approximately 7h, but the pagoda's interior was destroyed, and its exterior walls were at risk of collapse, according to Hannah Denys, spokesperson for the San Jose Fire Department.
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San Jose firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze at Duyen Giac pagoda. *SF Chronicle*
No one was inside the pagoda during the fire. The fire department's investigation unit is determining the cause and providing information regarding repairs and compensation for neighboring properties through private insurance.
This marks the second serious fire at Duyen Giac pagoda in less than two years. The pagoda previously caught fire in 5/2024, severely damaging the rear section of the structure.
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The scene of the Duyen Giac pagoda fire in San Jose, Santa Clara county, California, on 5/1. *KQED*
Duyen Giac pagoda is a religious and community center for Vietnamese Buddhists in San Jose and the Silicon Valley region. It serves not only as a religious institution but also as a cultural hub, offering Vietnamese language instruction and other social services.
Duc Trung (According to KQED, SF Chronicle, LA Times)
