No cause found for Marist fire that killed 3

Despite two months of investigation, Poughkeepsie-area law-enforcement and fire-safety authorities said they could not determine a cause for the Jan. 21 blaze that killed a Marist College student from Commack and two other students when it raced through a rented off-campus home.

Maryanne Fitzsimons, whose daughter, Kerry Fitzsimons, 21, died in the fire, said she had not seen a copy of the report though authorities notified her family before releasing it.

"It's all so shocking when you lose a child," she said. "You send them off to college and think they're going to be safe. She was so wonderful and had such a bright future."

Kerry Fitzsimons, a senior, died in an early morning fire that also killed fellow Marist College student Eva Block of Woodbridge, Conn., and former Marist student Kevin Johnson of New Canaan, Conn.

Poughkeepsie police said the investigation was conducted by several agencies: Fairview Fire District, Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response -- Fire Investigation Division and Arlington Fire District.

While a cause could not be determined by the probe, investigators did conclude that the fire began in the "rear, first-floor portion of the structure," which is an off-campus house.

The investigation also ruled out other factors such as "heating systems, spontaneous ignition, portable heating units, lighting, cooking equipment and solar energy."

It also concluded that, "smoking materials, electrical distribution, electrical devices and human behavior could not be eliminated as potential causes."Maryanne Fitzsimons said her family has set up a foundation to raise fire-safety awareness for on- and off-campus housing, especially sprinklers. Donations may be sent to The Kerry Rose Foundationcq at 169 Commack Rd., Suite H171, Commack, NY 11725.