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Yang fire site vigils-01
Flowers left by a mourner near the site of the fire. The Yang family farmed this field before the fire left them homeless. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-02
A rusted chair in front of the fire site. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-03
A totaled car and the twisted wreckage of the trailer shows the fire’s destructive reach. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-04
A corner view of the trailer wreckage. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-05
The remains of an incinerated mattress. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-06
This angle shows how the side entrance to the mobile home was completely obliterated in the blaze. It took less than seven minutes from ignition of the fire to total destruction of the mobile home and the loss of three lives. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-07
This end of the trailer was the most intact of its remains. Note the position of the water heater. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-08
An improvised hothouse where the Yang family grew Asian specialty crops and cages where they kept chickens. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-09
Flowers left by mourners near the end of the trailer, where the fire’s destruction was almost total. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-10
The Yang family’s produce truck was also totaled. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-11
The sun nears the horizon, casting long shadows amid the wreckage. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-12
The west side of the trailer wreckage. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-13
Evening light on a fencepost near the fire site. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-14
Relatives and friends arrive and begin lighting candles. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-15
Mourners in front of the trailer wreckage. Cousin Chong Yang squats near the right. This will be the first of four consecutive nightly vigils. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-16
The glow of candles just after sunset. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-17
Gabby Vang, left, and two cousins mourn the loss of three family members. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-18
Community activist, Paula Yang, a cousin of the deceased stands in the long, dirt driveway leading up to the mobile home. Paula would play a major role in raising money and support for the fire victims’ family. I met Paula for the first time after taking this picture. She would invite me to photograph many other Hmong events over the next several years, including a clan meeting and three funerals resulting from the fire. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-19
Several college friends of Shee Yang arrive at the first candlelight vigil. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-20
A child joins the first candlelight vigil. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-21
Highschool classmates of Ia (pronounced “Ee-yah”) Yang mourn the loss of their friend. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-22
Tommy Her and friends mourn the loss of Ia and Pakou Yang. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-23
More classmates join the first candlelight vigil. Photo: March 21, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-24
Cars arrive for the second nightly vigil. Photo: March 22, 2006.
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Yang fire site vigils-25
Vicki Cha (right) receives the flame from Roxanne Moua (left). Vicki was Shee Yang’s girlfriend and had become part of the family. They planned to marry after graduation. Photo: March 22, 2006.
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