Syracuse University officials have identified 21-year-old Kayla Corrigan as the victim of a fatal house fire that occurred early Christmas Eve morning at her family's home in Needham, Massachusetts.
The fire broke out just before 5 a.m. on December 24 at 28 Woodworth Road, where Corrigan was home for the holidays. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the three-story, single-family home. The intense heat and raging fire initially prevented first responders from entering the structure.
Student Identified as Victim in Christmas Eve Fire
Two adult residents were able to escape the blaze, but Corrigan was later found dead inside the home. About 75 firefighters from multiple communities responded to the four-alarm fire and worked for more than seven hours to bring the flames under control. The fire caused catastrophic damage to the home, leaving it essentially uninhabitable, according to WCVB.
Investigators believe the fire started accidentally in the rear of an attached garage on the right side of the home. Officials identified several potential heat sources in that area that could have contributed to the fire, though a specific cause has not yet been determined. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine confirmed that preliminary evidence suggests an accidental cause and the fire is not considered suspicious.
Corrigan was a senior in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, where she was studying marketing management and preparing to graduate this spring. She was actively involved in internships related to her field and was a member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority, People reported. According to those who knew her, Corrigan was known for her kindness, ambition, and dedication to her studies and friendships.
A Tragic Incident
In an email to the campus community, Syracuse University Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer Allen W. Groves expressed condolences to Corrigan's family, friends, classmates, and faculty.
"Receiving news like this over the holidays can be particularly challenging," Groves wrote, encouraging students to check in with one another and use available counseling services. The university's counseling center has made additional resources available to students struggling with the loss.
A GoFundMe page has been created to support Corrigan's family, who lost both their daughter and their home in the fire. By Sunday morning, the fundraiser had raised nearly $150,000. The campaign described Corrigan as "a beautiful 21-year-old girl who was deeply loved by many." The Needham Fire Department and community members have also offered support to the family during their time of grief, as per the Fall River Reporter.
