Cops: Smoke inhalation felled Commack woman
Town of Poughkeepsie and the Fairview Fire Department with other authorities at 112 Fairview Ave. in the Town of Poughkeepsie. A fire destroyed the building. (Jan. 21, 2012) Credit: AP
Poughkeepsie police confirmed Monday that a 21-year-old Commack woman was one of the three college students who died in a fire Saturday in a student-rented home near the Marist College campus.
Kerry R. Fitzsimons of Commack, a student at the college, died of smoke inhalation, police said.
The cause of the fire was still undetermined and under investigation Monday, but officials said they did not believe it was intentionally set.
Eva Block of Woodbridge, Conn., also a Marist student, and Kevin P. Johnson of New Canaan Conn., a student at Dutchess Community College, were also identified as smoke inhalation victims. Both were also 21 years old.
Four residents and three guests were in the house at the time of the fire, officials said. Four escaped the fire without serious injury.
Fitzsimons had worked for several years at the Munro Music store in East Northport.
A female co-worker who answered the telephone there Monday would only say, "She was loved. We're all devastated."
Family members declined to comment.
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