Fire causes significant damage to Lao Buddhist temple on south side; miraculously, no one is hurt

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Fire broke out in a building that is sacred for hundreds of Milwaukee area families. It happened early Friday morning, July 4th at the Lao Buddhist Temple on Milwaukee's south side.

For more than 25 years, the temple at 20th and National has been a gathering place for Milwaukee's Lao Buddhist community.

While the fire caused significant damage, there were no injuries. Amazing, considering the fire broke out just several feet away from a sleeping monk.

There is always plenty of water at the Lao Buddhist Temple.

According to custom, the monks who live inside cannot eat, and must only drink after noon.

But on Friday morning, temple members swept away unwanted water -- water used to put out a fire.

"I get a call from somebody at 12, at midnight, that it was a fire," Bounliane Rajphouny, the temple's senior advisor said.

Milwaukee Fire officials say firefighters helped one person escape unharmed.

Others got out on their own.

Temple members say the fire broke out in a room -- just a few feet from a sleeping monk.

"I find out he didn`t even know how the fire happen. He almost got hurt from the fire too. When he wake up, he see the fire already," Rajphouny said.

Temple leaders are relieved to know nobody was hurt.

It's also astonishing to see the main worship area down the hall, where there isn't even a hint of damage.

Temple officials say they don't know when power will be restored to the building.

"No light and the building, safety for my people to come worship, I`ll have to fix it up," Visay Keopansya, the president of Milwaukee Lao Buddhists said.

Saturday's worship service has been cancelled.

It's also unlikely that next weekend's children's banquet will happen.

But everyone is safe -- and the most cherished part of the temple is intact.

That's why Visay Keopansya can smile, even though he has a lot of work to do.

"Nobody get hurt, and they can save everybody so I`m really happy about it," Keopansya said.

There are an estimated 300 to 400 Lao Buddhist families in the Milwaukee area.

While this temple is closed due to the fire, there are two others in the area -- one at 64th and Silver Spring, and another in Waukesha.