Propane tank explodes after fire at Gurudwara construction site in California

The cause of the fire remains unclear. (representative)

New York:

A fire broke out at the largest gurudwara site in California, causing multiple propane tanks to explode and a religious classroom to be destroyed by the fire, authorities said.

No injuries were reported in Monday’s incident at the Sacramento Sikh Association’s gurdwara in the Sacramento area.

Metro Fire Chief Parker Wilbourn said first responders were called to the Gurdwara Sacramento Sikh Society southeast of downtown Sacramento around 3:30 p.m.

Sheriff’s deputies evacuated worshipers from the property and no injuries were reported, he said. At least two vehicles were charred.

The fire destroyed the building’s attic, leaving charred frames and causing part of the roof to collapse, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The fire ignited at least six large propane tanks, causing an explosion that sent metal flying at least 50 feet and created a huge plume of smoke that could be seen for miles, Wilburn said.

“At this point, we have not drawn any suspicious conclusions,” Wilburn said.

He said the fire was contained within the initial building and did not spread to the temple.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, Wilburn said. It’s not yet known where the fire started.

“We don’t know that yet, but propane tanks were involved and there was significant damage to the structure itself,” he said.

“Several of the tanks were in close proximity to our fire trucks, so we were very lucky that one of the tanks did not open fire and injure one of the members, first responders, civilians or deputies.” “It’s shocking,” said nearby Elk Groo Bobbie Singh-Allen, the city’s mayor and a member of the monastery, said it attracts about 2,000 people a week. “It was disturbing but fortunately there were no casualties.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)