The Phuong/Soeun family who lost their 17 year-old son, Prackesrth, or “Patrick,” to a house fire in the South Park neighborhood Monday, just after 8:00 p.m., Feb. 1, is finding aid and comfort within their tight knit Cambodian-American community and beyond.

Many possessions in their home, at 8805 5th Avenue South, were destroyed, and the Buddhist temple and community center where they have been active members are collecting clothes, kitchen items, and money for Patrick’s mother, Sody Soeun, his father, Sean Phuong, his sister, brother, and 88 year-old grandfather, who were all in the house when the fire struck. Patrick attended Madison Middle School and Chief Sealth High School.

Framed photos of Patrick were displayed on an alter at the Sahak Khemararam Buddhist Temple, 824 South 100th Street, in Boulevard Park, and a Friday night service of over 80 members packed the temple, a converted ranch house, to pray in a sort of unison song for an hour for Patrick and his family. Three resident monks led the prayer. The funeral would follow on Saturday, beginning at the temple, then moving to the Columbia Funeral Home in Columbia City.

In the front yard of the temple stands a marble centerpiece, the temple logo.

“Sean carved our temple logo,” said temple president Moeun Kang. “We supplied the marble and he volunteered the work. He volunteers every Cambodian New Year (around April 14) and comes with music and does fundraising. The prayers we sing are for Patrick. We pray for his future. When people here have personal problems they talk to the monks who offer counseling.”

“At first I felt lonely, but a lot of people have been helping and I feel better,” said Sean, speaking to the West Seattle Herald while inspecting the exterior of his scorched home. “I am very thankful to my neighbors, to West Seattle, to everybody. People have contacted me from California to Rhode Island wanting to help my family.”

Sean, 47, was born in Battombong, Cambodia. His family came to the United State as refugees in 1984 and settled in Seattle. He worked with marble but now both he and Sody are out of work.

“I heard a large sound- boom! So I came out,” said Chho Collins, the family’s neighbor to the south. “I heard a loud voice say, ‘Oh my God! Please help my brother.’ When I went back to my house I smelled like burnt kerosene.”

“I ran out with my wife and two kids after I heard the explosion of fire,” said Sirag Vohra of 419 South Trenton, the neighbor to the west. Strips of metal siding on the east side of his house melted off. So did some of the materials of his front deck that he said Sean helped build.

“Patrick was the one who helped teach me to swim, and he talked to me a lot,” said Cody Chhun, 12, a close friend who stopped by the house.

“I’ll always remember when we and our other friends went camping and laughed and told ghost stories,” said Cody’s sister, Emily, 16. “I had some attitude problems and he taught me to enjoy life.”

To help out the family, you can drop off donations to:

The Sahak Khemararam Buddhist Temple, 824 South 100th Street, in Boulevard Park, or phone them at (206) 768-1824. Also, by email: moeunk@gmail.com

They are in urgent need of monetary donations and the following:

Towels, toiletries, kitchen items, personal hygiene.

Sean Phuong needs clothes, jacket size medium. And men shoes size 8.

Sody Soeun needs clothes; jacket and women shoes size 7.

Sophary Soeun (21-year-old daughter) need clothes, shoe size 7and a half, and for her son, age 1, and daughter, age 2.

Channy Soeun (9-year-old son) needs clothes size 8-10, shoes size 4, jacket etc.

Phann Phuong (88-year-old grand father) needs clothes, shoes, etc.