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Shelter for Burien fire victims closing

05:42 PM PDT on Saturday, July 5, 2008

By CHRIS DANIELS / KING 5 News

BURIEN, Wash. - Tau Tuiletufuga is still looking for a new place to call home.

Video: Shelter for Burien fire victims closing
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The apartment he and his three children called home for five years was destroyed in last Sunday's early morning arson, along with pictures and documents from his life's journey around the world.

"We stood there for hours, speechless," he said.

"When it's something like this, shock and disbelief can last for days," said Dr. Wren Hudgins, who has been counseling Tuiletufuga family and others at a Red Cross shelter set up in a Burien church.

"There are a lot of people walking around with blank stares and they are not able to get to the telephone and do something for themselves," said Dr. Hudgins.

On Saturday, after counseling 61 people, the Red Cross shut down the shelter.

"Just because we're closing the shelter doesn't mean we won't be working with them," said Katherin Boury of the Red Cross.

The agency says many people have found new apartments, the first step in patching their lives back together.

On Saturday, the fire scene was still fenced off, barring any of the victims from salvaging their belongings.

Tuiletufuga still thinks about the little boy and two others who lost their lives here.

"He had so much energy," he said.

He said he now realizes life is precious.

"We lost a lot of possessions but we're going to be a family again, to lose a member of the family is too much," he said.

"We're going to go to a hotel for about three days, until Monday, and hopefully by Monday we're going to get a place to move to," he said. "We know we're going to get a place."

Police have not arrested any suspects in the arson.

There is a benefit Sunday night for the fire victims. It will feature live music and it's being held at Bison Creek Pizza on 153rd in Burien from 5 to 9 p.m.

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