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…