At 16, survivor of fatal fire just wishes his family had lived, too
Wilder Vasquez, 16, was one of the survivors of a trailer fire in Immokalee last March that killed his mother, sister and brother. Vasquez was severely burned and is still recovering from the injuries while living with his aunt in Immokalee. The trailer fire was labeled arson and killed five people and injured five others. No one has been arrested in connection with the fire.
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A trailer fire broke out at 713 2nd Avenue in Immokalee where several people died in March. Dozens of neighbors came out to see the destruction.
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Gloria Hernandez, second from right, a paralegal and farmworker's advocate, helps steady Wilder Vasquez, 16, as he explains to members of the Lions Club, Immokalee Fire Department and Farmworker's Association what happened to him in March when his trailer was set on fire. The three different agencies met in order to organize a way to deliver fire detectors to the migrant community. Wilder's home did not have fire detectors and he and four others were injured and five others killed. His mother, sister and brother all died in the blaze.
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Wilder Vasquez, 16, looks at a picture of himself before he was severely burned in a fire at his Immokalee trailer in March. Vasquez spent four months in hospitals in Tampa and Cincinatti recovering from his injuries. His mother, sister, and brother all died in the fire that was classified as arson.
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Wilder Vasquez, 16, whose hands are covered in gloves that protect his skin as they heal, holds on to a picture of himself before he was severely burned in a fire at his Immokalee trailer in March. Vasquez spent four months in hospitals in Tampa and Cincinatti recovering from his injuries. His mother, sister, and brother all died in the fire that was classified as arson.
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Wilder Vasquez, 16, looks at a picture of his sister Luciana, who died in a trailer fire that also killed his mother and brother in March in Immokalee. Vasquez was severely burned and was one of five survivors of the fire that was classified as arson.
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