More Than $180K Raised For Family Of Needham Woman Killed In Fire

NEEDHAM, MA — An online fundraiser has already raised more than $180,000 for the surviving Needham family whose loved one died in a house fire last week.

Kayla Renee Corrigan, 21, has been identified as the victim of the house fire that took place at 20 Woodworth Road on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 24. Corrigan was one of three people reportedly inside the home at the time of the blaze, and the other two were able to safely escape. The young woman was first considered unaccounted for until being found dead in the afternoon, according to Needham Fire Chief Thomas Conroy and Massachusetts Fire Marshal Jon Davine.

The GoFundMe was launched by Amy Lund, who said its primary purpose is to support Corrigan’s family as they try to replace their home and belongings while enduring a large amount of grief.

“Words cannot express the depth of our grief or the shock of this loss. 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,” Lund wrote. “We are raising funds to help them cover funeral and memorial expenses, temporary housing, and basic necessities as they navigate this unimaginable time.”

Corrigan was a senior in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, and was slated to graduate this coming spring.

“Kayla (Corrigan) immersed herself into internships strengthening her understanding of navigating marketing decisions in an evolving global landscape. Outside of the classroom she was an active member of Sigma Delta Tau,” Syracuse Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves said in a statement. “Please keep Kayla’s family and friends in your thoughts at this difficult time.”

The Local 1706 Needham Firefighters’ Union expressed gratitude to the community for its support of the family in the aftermath of the loss of their loved one.