SKYKOMISH, Wash. - The main building at Snow Mountain Monastery in Skykomish was destroyed by fire early Sunday.

Skykomish firefighters arrived to find flames shooting into the night sky, knowing there was nothing they could do to save the building.

"When we came around the corner it was flames shooting 40 feet into the air,' said Patty Binion, Skykomish Fire Dept.

It burned to the ground, but other buildings on the monastery compound were not damaged.

While the cause is still under investigation, fire bosses initially believe heavy snow and ice pinched the power lines on the roof, causing them to arc and start the fire.

“We just worked to save the surrounding buildings,” said Binion.

Firefighters say a caretaker attempted to control the blaze with a fire extinguisher, but it quickly overpowered him.  He was not injured.

More than half a day later, the fire still smoldered.

"It's a tragedy, it's sad," said neighbor Tamra Cole.

According to a Web site, the Snow Mountain Monastery was founded in 1983 when a Spokane "venerable master" and his disciples reached the Skykomish Valley. The "good energy" compelled him to buy property here. 

"Very serene, this was just like a little piece of heaven right here," said Cole.

But records detail another destructive fire on this same property over 100 years ago, when this area was known as the Berlin townsite, population 500.   That logging town burned down in the midst of its heyday.

We were unable to reach anyone affiliated with the monastery to find out if they plan to rebuild.