Fire destroys family home near Gentry
GENTRY — On Sunday, Aug. 14, a devastating fire consumed the home of Doua and Macy Vang at 24658 Lamphear Road in rural Gentry. While they and their sons Matthew and Ying Vang survived, the family lost everything and is now working to rebuild what was lost.
On the day of the fire, the Vang family was out with friends and family at a church event. It wasn’t until they returned home that they knew something was wrong.
“We came home and saw smoke on top of the roof … and we called 911,” said Macy Vang. “We didn’t know what started it.”
According to Fire Chief Vester Cripps, the Gentry Fire Department believes “the fire started from the cookstove and that something was left turned on while cooking on top of the stove.”
The fire department rushed to the scene and put out the fire, but it rekindled “due to embers smoldering underneath the debris.” The reignited fire caused more damage to the house and, once the ash settled, nothing was left.
“Jewelry, clothes, furniture, dishes, all kinds of pictures,” said Macy Vang, “everything burned to the ground!”
The family lost not only their material possessions but their animals too. This includes their fish and dog. That devastated them.
“The first day, we were really shocked and, since yesterday, we realized we lost everything.”
The Vang family right now is being housed in a hotel while their insurance settlement proceeds. The house itself could take up to “a year to rebuild.”
Since then, the community has been supportive. Some have donated clothes and other things to help the Vangs get back on their feet.
People view the Vangs the same way Kim Nichols, a neighbor, does. “They’re very kind and sweet people,” she said.
If people want to make a donation Bee Lo, Macy Vang’s sister-in-law, manages the “GoFundMe” webpage called “Help Vang Family after Devastating Fire Loss.” The family is accepting other donations such as clothes and food. If people want to help, they can reach out to Macy Vang at 479-228-3163.