Hmmm, the candlelight vigil idea to explain the matches is a good one, but I'm certain the Daily would've caught wind of that anytime over the weekend, don't you think?
Of course, we don't know when the matches appeared there--whether they were there all along, as when it was reported at 5:30 PM that there was nothing but crime tape on the scene, or if they appeared there between 5:30PM and 7:50PM, when they were noted in print.
The Triangle guys maybe did a brief salute vigil right after sundown? Or just a group of friends or people from the apartments who were evac'ed to hotels? Not sure he had many friends there.
Of course, there is also another possibility ... do ME types burn candles like that? I've seen large incense sticks stuck in the ground for a vigil, and left there afterwards, still burning, but I don't know if a candleligt vigil isn't strictly an American thing.
If that's what happened, they "vigil'ed and ran" - didn't stay long, if the reporter didn't encounter them. Hmmm.
NO Candlelight vigil according to sources on campus.