A 21-year-old college student lost her life on Christmas Eve after a fire ripped through her family’s home in Needham, Massachusetts, authorities said. Kayla Corrigan, a senior at Syracuse University, was inside the residence when the blaze broke out early in the morning, destroying the house and claiming her life.
Two other adults who were also inside at the time of the blaze managed to escape without injuries.
Investigators said the fire appeared to have started in the home’s attached garage
Fire crews were dispatched to the house around 5 a.m. on December 24 following reports of heavy smoke and flames.
Despite attempts to enter the residence, firefighters were pushed back by the intensity of the fire as it spread rapidly throughout the structure of the property, reported to be a $4 million mansion.
Officials later described the damage to the home as catastrophic.
According to the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire was believed to have originated in the rear of the home’s attached garage.
While the exact cause of the fire had not yet been determined, investigators said they identified several heat sources that may have contributed to the blaze.
“We haven’t determined the cause of this fire yet, but we know that tragedies like this one are most common in the winter months,” State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said in a statement.
“Please be sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home and a practiced escape plan in the event of an emergency,” Davine added.
It remained unclear who exactly was inside the home at the time of the fire, though records indicated that Corrigan’s mother, Christa, and her 23-year-old sister, Alyssa, were listed as residents of the property.
Corrigan’s sorority sisters and classmates remembered her as a kind and motivated young woman
Corrigan was a senior majoring in marketing management at Syracuse University and was on track to graduate in the spring.
She was an active member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority, where she was remembered as a caring presence within the chapter.
“Kayla shared the most beautiful presence and was such a kind and caring soul,” her sorority sisters wrote in a tribute posted on Instagram.
“Everyone who knew her recognized her kindness, her warmth, her humor and her selflessness.”
The sorority also extended its condolences to Corrigan’s family and said the chapter will be honoring her memory once students returned to campus following winter break.
University officials echoed the sorority’s sentiments. Syracuse University’s Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves described Corrigan as a driven student who was deeply invested in her field of study.
In a letter to the campus community, Groves stated that Corrigan had “immersed herself into internships strengthening her understanding of navigating marketing decisions in an evolving global landscape.”
Groves also encouraged students who feel affected by the tragedy to seek counseling and support services.
Corrigan’s family background and community came into focus after the tragic fire
As news of the tragedy spread, members of the Syracuse University community mobilized to support the Corrigan family.
Fellow students and other fraternities, among others, have contributed to a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover Corrigan’s funeral expenses and provide temporary housing to her family.
Amy Lund, who organized a GoFundMe for Corrigan, described her loss as devastating. “Words cannot express the depth of our grief or the shock of this loss,” she wrote.
“Kayla was a beautiful 21-year-old girl who was deeply loved by many. Her absence has left a space that can never be filled.”
Public records showed that Corrigan’s mother, Christa Corrigan, 55, had spent decades working at General Electric, holding several leadership roles over the years.
For the past 16 years, she has worked as the vice president of GE’s human resources division.
Her father, James Corrigan, 61, previously worked in executive roles within GE Healthcare and later moved into leadership positions across the finance and health industries.
He currently works for financial services firm JMC Advisors LLC, where he has served as President and CEO since July this year, according to the Daily Mail.
Neither parent nor Corrigan’s sister Alyssa had spoken publicly in the days following the fire.
Netizens shared their thoughts about Kayla Corrigan’s tragic fate on social media
