The couple who died in an Aurora apartment fire were remembered Wednesday as being extremely kind and generous people.
Dom Chanhthavongsa, 64, and her husband, Bounhieng Thammavongsa, 59, did not have a lot of money, but they helped those in need when they could, said their friend Onechanh Inthamanivong.
“It is just so sad,” she said. “They weren’t supposed to go this way. They were so nice.”
Fire crews arrived just after 11 p.m. Monday at The Fitz Apartments, 1747 Peoria St., to find flames soaring higher than the rooftop and residents escaping the four-story building through windows, Capt. Allen Robnett, spokesman for the Aurora Fire Department, said. Fifteen people were taken to area hospitals with various injuries.
Chanhthavongsa and Thammavongsa were members of the Lao Buddhist Temple in Westminster, which burned to the ground last year.
They immigrated from Laos more than 20 years ago, Inthamanivong said.
Thammavongsa worked as custodian at Hinkley High School and had been with the district since 1985, Aurora Public Schools spokeswoman Paula Hans said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Bo’s family and friends during this difficult time,” she said.
The fire is being investigated as a possible arson. Witnesses said they saw a man pouring gasoline down the hallway of the apartment building.
