1977 — Dec 13, Fire, Providence College Women’s Dormitory, Providence, RI — 10

–10  Donovan. “Providence College Dorm Fire: 35 Years Ago.” Firegeezer.com. 12-18-2012.

–10  National Fire Protection Association. 1984 Fire Almanac. 1983, p. 138.

–10  The Daily Herald, Chicago. “Providence college coed dies of burns.” 3-28-1978, p. 11.

—  9  Associated Press. “Dorm Death Toll Increases.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 12-27-1977, p. 12F.

 

Narrative Information

 

Dec 13, AP: “Providence (AP) — The windows on the third floor of Providence College’s Aquinas Hall are sprayed with holiday greetings: “Merry Christmas,” “Have a Happy New Year.” The fourth-floor windows are charred and black, with broken glass, ripped screens and torn curtains hanging from them.

 

“Fire broke out on the fourth floor of the women’s dorm early this morning. Seven women died, either from burns, smoke inhalation or as a result of injuries suffered when they jumped to the hard, snow-covered ground four stories below….

 

“The Dominican school closed its doors until next month in memory of the dead students…. “We share the deep sense of loss with the parents of those students who died today,” said the Very Rev. Thomas R. Peterson, president of PC. “For we too mourn these deaths within our college community.”….

 

“The blaze forced evacuation of the four-story brick building, which can house up to 300 students. It was not known how many were actually in the building this morning.

 

“Three girls were living in the room where the fire broke out. Two jumped to their deaths. The third waited a few moments longer and was rescued by firefighters. “If they’d just waited five seconds longer, they’d be alive,” one firefighter said. “Their roommate is on her way home to Newport.”

 

“Father Peterson and security guards praised the actions of male students who helped evacuate the Aquinas Hall residents and brought blankets and food to emergency shelters.

 

“Many of those men stood vigil outside the hall and the chapel which was converted into a temporary morgue. The students shivered in the cold but stood their ground. Some angrily chased away “outsiders,” including cameramen and photographers….” (Associated Press, Providence (Mark Rosati). “Tragedy, holiday greetings in stark contrast in burned-out college dorm.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-13-1977, p. 1.)

 

Dec 13, UPI: “Providence, R.I. (UPI) — A four-alarm fire possibly caused by faulty Christmas lights or a hair dryer raged through part of a Providence College dormitory before dawn today, killing seven women students and injuring 15 others….

 

“The school was ordered closed at noon, to reopen on Jan. 9. Final semester examinations were to begin on Wednesday with the 3,600 students beginning the Christmas holiday season next week….

 

“Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy went to the scene for a personal look at the disaster and to talk with students.

 

“The fire broke out at 3 a.m. on the top floor of Aquinas Hall, which housed 300 students. It had no sprinklers or outside fire escapes, but recently had undergone fireproofing.

 

“Hundreds of blanket-covered coeds were driven into the 17 degree cold until they could be sheltered elsewhere. Snow covered the campus around the red brick building. Students from surrounding buildings helped get some of the coeds out — breaking windows in some instances — and helped firemen by hauling hoses, moving parked cars and raising ladders to young women screaming for help from upper windows. “The fire doors kept the blaze from spreading beyond one corner of the top floor,” said the Rev. Aloysius Begley, alumni chaplain at the Roman Catholic school.

 

“Two young women died when they leaped from a fourth-floor window as flames began to engulf them. Eyewitnesses said the two were afraid to wait any longer for a ladder to arrive….

 

“Bodies of six victims were taken to a temporary morgue set up in the campus chapel. A seventh victim, identified as Jackie Botelho of Bristol, R.I., was dead on arrival at Roger Williams Hospital….” (UPI. “Seven students die in Providence fire.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-13-1977, p. 1.)

 

Dec 14, UPI: Victims identified:

 

Kathryn Andersakes

Jacqueline Botelho

Barbara Feeney

Donna Galligan

Gretchen Ludwig

Catherine Anne Repucci

Debora Ann Smith.

 

“….Five of the victims were overcome by smoke and fumes. The other two – Barbara Feeney and Donna Galligan — leapt to their deaths on the frozen pavement in an effort to escape the flames….” (UPI. “College fire victims getting ready for exams, Christmas.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-14-1977, p. 24.)

 

Dec 15, UPI: “Providence, R.I. (UPI)…. One student remained in critical condition because of severe burns. Laura Ryan of Mineola, N.Y., was transferred from Roger Williams Hospital in Providence to the Massachusetts General Hospital burn center….

 

“….now investigators feel a gooseneck lamp shining on a cardboard manger scene set up on the fourth floor caused the fire. The scene was part of a Christmas decorating contest at the Catholic college….” (UPI. “Campus ‘in shock’ after fire.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-15-1977, p. 19.)

 

Dec 16: “Lowell – The Providence College girls dormitory, where seven students perished in a fire, and the ULowell dormitories have two things in common: they house students and lack sprinkler systems….The Providence College dormitory had been inspected last fall for fire safety. It lacked a sprinkler system and exterior fire escape but had interior fire escapes….

 

“Providence City Fire Marshall Thomas Doyle has said the fire started in a manger scene being illuminated by a desk lamp, and then raced down a 120-foot corridor hung with paper Christmas decorations….” (Lowell Sun, MA. “ULowell dorms lack sprinkler systems.” 12-16-1977, p. 10.)

 

Dec 19, UPI: “Providence, R.I. (UPI) — The Rhode Island commissioner of education said Sunday colleges should do more the meet minimum state standards to protect students against fire. Commissioner Thomas Schmidt said Tuesday’s fire at Providence College makes it obvious building codes do not ensure student safety. Seven coeds died in the dormitory fire although the building met state standards. Schmidt suggested “constant fire drills, training people how to behave in heavy smoke situations and making sure there are regular inspections.”” (UPI. “Rhode Island. Colleges warned on fire-safety measures.” Berkshire Eagle, MA. 12-19-1977, p. 28.)

 

Dec 27, AP: “Providence, R.I. (AP) — Two 18-year-old Connecticut women who were severely burned in a dormitory fire at Providence College two weeks ago have died, bringing the death toll to nine. Dorothy A. Widman of Cheshire died last night at Roger Williams Hospital. Sally Garvey of Enfield died this morning at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Texas. They were among 15 persons injured when fire flashed through the fourth floor of Aquinas Hall early in the morning of Dec. 13. Seven women students, including two who jumped from fourth-story windows to the snow-covered ground, died that day. Officials said they believed the blaze was caused by a Christmas manger display lit by a high-intensity bulb.” (Associated Press. “Dorm Death Toll Increases.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 12-27-1977, p. 12F.)

 

March 28, 1978: “Freshman honor student Laura Ryan of Mineola, N.Y., died Monday [March 27] at Massachusetts General Hospital, raising to 10 the number of coeds killed by the Dec. 13, 1977, Providence College dormitory fire. Miss Ryan, 19, had been undergoing treatment in the hospital’s burn center, where she was transferred one day after the fire, for third-degree burns over 80 percent of her body. The pre-dawn fire at the Rhode Island school last year killed nine other coeds, including two who jumped 40 feet to their deaths from a fourth floor window of Aquinas Hall while firemen were raising ladders to reach them.” (The Daily Herald, Chicago. “Providence college coed dies of burns.” 3-28-1978, p. 11.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Dorm Death Toll Increases.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 12-27-1977, p. 12F. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/oakland/oakland-tribune/1977/12-27/page-12?tag=fire+providence+college&rtserp=tags/fire?pep=providence-college&psb=dateasc&page=2&pci=7&ndt=bd&pd=23&pe=31&pem=12&py=1977&pm=12&pey=1977

 

Associated Press, Providence (Mark Rosati). “Tragedy, holiday greetings in stark contrast in burned-out college dorm.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-13-1977, p. 1. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/lowell/lowell-sun/1977/12-13?tag=providence+college&rtserp=tags/?psi=50&pci=7&ndt=ex&pd=13&pm=12&py=1977&pep=providence-college/

 

Donovan, Mark. “Providence College Dorm Fire: 35 Years Ago.” Firegeezer.com. 12-18-2012. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://www.firegeezer.com/2012/12/18/famous-dormitory-fire-recalled-35-years-later/

 

Lowell Sun, MA (Nick Caraganis). “ULowell dorms lack sprinkler systems.” 12-16-1977, p. 10. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/lowell/lowell-sun/1977/12-16/page-10?tag=providence+college&rtserp=tags/?psi=50&pci=7&ndt=ex&pd=16&pm=12&py=1977&pep=providence-college

 

National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.

 

The Daily Herald, Chicago. “Providence college coed dies of burns.” 3-28-1978, p. 11. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/illinois/arlington-heights/daily-herald-suburban-chicago/1978/03-28/page-11?tag=fire+providence+college&rtserp=tags/fire?pep=providence-college&psb=dateasc&page=3&pci=7&ndt=bd&pd=1&pe=31&pem=12&py=1978&pm=2&pey=1978

 

United Press International, Providence. “Campus ‘in shock’ after fire.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-15-1977, p. 19. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/lowell/lowell-sun/1977/12-15/page-19?tag=providence+college&rtserp=tags/?psi=50&pci=7&ndt=ex&pd=15&pm=12&py=1977&pep=providence-college

 

United Press International (Richard Taffe, Jr.). “College fire victims getting ready for exams, Christmas.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-14-1977, p. 24. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/lowell/lowell-sun/1977/12-14/page-24?tag=providence+college&rtserp=tags/?psi=50&pci=7&ndt=ex&pd=14&pm=12&py=1977&pep=providence-college

 

United Press International. “Rhode Island. Colleges warned on fire-safety measures.” Berkshire Eagle, MA. 12-19-1977, p. 28. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/pittsfield/berkshire-eagle/1977/12-19/page-28?tag=providence+college&rtserp=tags/?ndt=bd&pd=19&pm=12&py=1977&pe=31&pem=12&pey=1977&pep=providence-college&psb=dateasc

 

United Press International. “Seven students die in Providence fire.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-13-1977, p. 1. Accessed 5-27-2015 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/lowell/lowell-sun/1977/12-13?tag=providence+college&rtserp=tags/?psi=50&pci=7&ndt=ex&pd=13&pm=12&py=1977&pep=providence-college/