Faith Under Fire: San Jose's Buddhist Temple Struck by Flames for the Second Time
For San Jose's Vietnamese Buddhist community, the repeated destruction of Chua Duyen Giac is more than a building loss — it is a wound to decades of shared faith, memory, and belonging. These reports from multiple outlets paint a sobering picture of a sacred space in crisis.
🔥 Three-Alarm Blaze Triggers Partial Roof Collapse
San Jose firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire at the Chua Duyen Giac Buddhist temple on the 90 block of Foss Avenue early on a Monday morning, with crews dispatched at approximately 5:37 a.m. The two-story mixed-use temple suffered a partial roof collapse during the blaze. No occupants were inside at the time and no injuries were reported. Notably, this same temple had been struck by a three-alarm fire on May 13, 2024, which had displaced residents and caused serious damage. Foss Avenue was closed to traffic while firefighters worked the scene. [4]
🚒 Firefighters Battle Returning Threat at Foss Avenue Temple
KTVU reported that the three-alarm fire at the Buddhist temple on Foss Avenue presented a renewed emergency for a structure already severely impacted by a prior blaze. San Jose fire crews worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to surrounding properties. The incident drew significant local media attention given the temple's history of fire damage. Firefighters faced a challenging scene at the large two-story building as flames took hold. [5]
🏚️ Temple Declared a Total Loss; Owner Vows to Rebuild
NBC Bay Area reported that the rear of the Chua Duyen Giac structure was fully engulfed, threatening neighboring homes, though firefighters successfully contained the blaze. The temple had not yet passed final inspection following reconstruction after the 2024 fire, and authorities confirmed the building is now a total loss. The owner, speaking off camera, expressed deep concern about recovering the ashes of ancestors stored inside the temple. Despite the presence of unhoused individuals who had been squatting on the property, the owner stated his intention to rebuild the temple, which has served the local Vietnamese community since 1990. [6]
🕯️ KQED: A Community Landmark Destroyed Twice in Two Years
KQED framed the second destruction of the San José Buddhist temple as a deeply painful milestone for the community it has long anchored. The outlet highlighted that the temple had endured two major fires within the span of just two years, a devastating pattern for those who relied on it for spiritual and cultural continuity. The report underscored the broader significance of the loss, contextualizing it within the temple's role as a cornerstone of Vietnamese religious life in San Jose. The repeated fires have left the community grappling with both grief and an uncertain path toward restoration. [9]
Sources: [4] ABC7 Bay Area · [5] KTVU · [6] NBC Bay Area · [9] KQED