Saturday, March 13, 2010

Suspicious Fire damages Sacramento Sikh Temple

A charred building and broken windows are all that is left of a Sacramento Sikh temple after a suspicious fire nearly destroyed the house of worship overnight.

Instead of attending services today, members of the Sikh temple on the 7600 block of Rangeview Lane are picking through the charred rubble.

"This is too much damage. I can't believe it," said Sulakhan Singh who attends the temple. "Everything's gone, totally lost."

Singh says the congregation has never received threats or had problems before. So it's especially upsetting for members to hear someone may have targeted their temple. Arson investigators are labeling the fierce blaze that broke out before midnight as suspicious.

"You can't rule out the possibility of a hate crime. We're not saying it's accidental or on purpose, but it is suspicious at this time," said Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Rusty Dupray.

Because the fire involves a religious building and arson may be to blame, the FBI and ATF have been notified and brought into the investigation.

Sacramento Metro Fire investigators collected samples from the debris this morning to check for chemicals or accelerants.

Firefighters say the 911 call came in from the priest who lives at the temple and was startled from sleep by smoke alarms.

The fire damage is estimated at $250,000 leaving Sikh congregation is left without a place of worship.

With thanks : source : http://cbs13.com/local/sikh.temple.fire.2.1556405.html

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