Overview
- Preliminary findings from Zhangjiagang authorities attribute the Nov. 12 blaze at Wenchang Pavilion on Fenghuang Mountain to visitors’ improper use of candles and incense.
- Dramatic footage showed the three-storey structure engulfed in flames with parts of the roof collapsing as thick black smoke rose.
- Officials reported no casualties and said the fire was contained, preventing spread to surrounding forest areas.
- The pavilion was completed in 2009 and managed by the neighboring Yongqing Temple, whose current buildings were rebuilt in the 1990s.
- Local authorities say they will pursue accountability, strengthen fire-safety measures, and plan restoration in the site’s traditional style after assessments are finished.