A 21-year-old university student, the daughter of a senior General Electric executive, has died after a devastating fire, believed to be caused by multiple 'heat spots', destroyed her family's multi-million-pound mansion on Christmas Eve.
Tragedy Strikes Pre-Dawn on Christmas Eve
Kayla Corrigan, 21, was killed when her family's $4 million home in Needham, Massachusetts – a suburb of Boston – was engulfed by flames in the early hours of 24 December. Fire crews were called to the sprawling 2,500 square-foot property, which features six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, at around 5am as heavy smoke and fire consumed the building.
Two other adults who were inside the residence at the time managed to escape without injury. Firefighters attempted to enter the home but were forced back by the intensity of the blaze, which the state fire marshal said 'quickly spread' throughout the entire structure. Corrigan was later found deceased inside.
A 'Beloved' Student with a Bright Future
Kayla Corrigan was a 'beloved' member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority at Syracuse University and was on track to graduate this spring with a degree in marketing management. In a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, her sorority sisters described her as a kind and caring soul.
'Kayla shared the most beautiful presence and was such a kind and caring soul,' they wrote. 'Everyone who knew her recognized her kindness, her warmth, her humor and her selflessness.'
The university's Chief Student Experience Officer, Allen Groves, noted that Corrigan was a driven student who had immersed herself in internships to strengthen her marketing expertise.
Investigation Points to Accidental Garage Blaze
Investigators have determined the fire was accidental and believe it began in the rear of an attached garage. While the exact cause remains under investigation, firefighters identified several heat sources that may have contributed to the inferno.
State Fire Marshal Jon Davine used the tragedy to urge all families to ensure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their home and a practised escape plan.
The fire caused 'catastrophic damage' to the property. Public records indicate the home was occupied by Corrigan's mother, Christa, and her 23-year-old sister, Alyssa. Christa Corrigan is a long-serving Vice President of Human Resources at General Electric's Capital Retail Finance division.
A GoFundMe campaign established to cover funeral costs and provide temporary housing for the family has demonstrated an outpouring of support, amassing more than $160,000 in donations. Contributions have come from university fraternities, the men's ice hockey team, and the wider community.
The Sigma Delta Tau chapter plans to honour Corrigan's memory at their chapter house once students return to campus after the winter break. The family has requested privacy as they grieve their profound loss.
