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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Annette McGivney in Las Vegas, New Mexico, with photographs by Adria Malcolm

‘Nothing to go back to’: the way of life lost to New Mexico’s historic fire

three images side by side, featuring, from left to right, Mahan's family standing on debris; Trujillo holding his dog while sitting in a wheelchair; Brogan, Haver and Haver outside a home
New Mexico residents who lost homes to the fire. From left: Kathryn Mahan, Jamie Knutson and Rayyah; Eddy Trujillo with his dog Lulu; Brandy Brogan, Samantha Haver and Stoney Haver. Photograph: Adria Malcolm/The Guardian

For Kathryn Mahan and her husband, Jamie, the front steps of their home in the northern New Mexico village of Las Dispensas were a family touchstone. The couple built the house themselves in 2015 and fashioned the steps out of concrete blocks. Every year they photographed their daughter, Rayyah, on them – as Rayyah grew, the steps stayed the same.

The largest wildfire in New Mexico history has suddenly changed all that.

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