Ceres monk who died after fire ID'd

By The Modesto Bee, September 24, 2009

 

<< Ven. Masarin Visothea

Stanislaus County coroner officials Thursday identified Masarin Visothea as the Buddhist monk who died last week after he inhaled smoke while trying to put out an electrical fire in Ceres.

Visothea, 52, of Ceres, was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, where he was pronounced dead, said Ceres Fire Battalion Chief Bryan Hunt.

The fire occurred about 3:40 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Cambodian Buddhist temple in the 3800 block of Roeding Road, just east of Mitchell Road. Hunt said the fire was caused by an overloaded electrical outlet in a back room used for worship.

Temple members, including Visothea and other monks, grabbed garden hoses and sprayed water into the burning room. Hunt said it appeared Visothea was fighting the fire from outside the room when he collapsed after inhaling too much smoke.

 

 

 

 

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