Firebombs Damage Thai Couple’s Home

Three firebombs were hurled early Monday at a Northridge home where Buddhist services are held, igniting a fire that heavily damaged the house but injured no one, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.

The 3:23 a.m. fire in the 8300 block of Yolanda Avenue burned the wood-shingle roof and front windows of the house belonging to Pradit and Pachri Phongpharnich, authorities said. The couple and their two teen-age children escaped unharmed.

Arson investigators and the Phongpharniches said they did not believe there was a link between the arson and the couple’s religious activities.

Pachri (Pat) Phongpharnich, who came with her husband to Southern California from Thailand 22 years ago, described herself as a Buddhist priest who uses the religious title “Rev. Man Hsi.” She said she holds weekly meditation meetings at the house and at other homes in the San Fernando Valley.