A century-old temple in Taipei burned overnight, and the city says it will now treat fire safety at religious sites as a special project — a warning sign for the more than 1,900 temples across the capital.

• Fire gutted most of the ground floor of a main hall at Zhinan Temple in Taipei's Wenshan district, with partial damage upstairs.
• The cause is still under investigation; the city will send several departments to meet temple staff this week, with cleanup help already underway.
• Temple fires are a recurring problem, usually from smoking or faulty wiring, and some districts have over 200 temples each.
• Heritage rules are part of the danger — temples listed as cultural assets face heavy red tape for repairs, so safety upgrades stall.

Outlook: Expect the city to push a dedicated temple fire-safety program and pressure to simplify repair approvals for heritage-listed sites.