SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A fire broke out at the largest Sikh temple in California’s capital city on Monday, resulting in multiple propane tank explosions. The Gurdwara Sacramento Sikh Society, located southeast of downtown Sacramento, suffered damage to an outlying building used for religious classes before emergency crews were able to contain the blaze. Fortunately, worshipers were evacuated without any reported injuries.
The fire, which started around 3:30 p.m., burned into the building’s attic, causing a partial roof collapse and leaving behind a gutted frame. At least two vehicles were also charred in the blaze. The explosions from the large propane tanks sent metal flying at least 50 feet into the air and produced a massive plume of smoke visible for miles.
Authorities reported that the flames did not spread to the main temple and that the cause of the fire is under investigation. Metro Fire Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn indicated that no conclusions about the fire being suspicious have been made. The mayor of nearby Elk Grove, Bobbie Singh-Allen, expressed alarm at the incident but was thankful that no lives were lost.
The Gurdwara Sacramento Sikh Society attracts about 2,000 people per week and serves as a significant religious and cultural hub for the Sikh community in the area. The impact of the fire on the temple and the surrounding community is yet to be determined as authorities work to determine the cause of the blaze and assess the extent of the damage.