FDNY announces cause of fire that killed Staten Island girl, 7, daughter of St. Peter’s football coach

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The cause of the fire that took the life of a 7-year-old West Brighton girl on New Year’s Day was deemed “accidental/electrical wiring,” by FDNY Fire Marshals Friday afternoon.

Rory Bea DeCristoforo was killed in the fire that broke out in the family home at 110 Brookside Ave. in West Brighton. A spokesperson for the FDNY told the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com that no further information is available.

THE FIRE

The fire was initially reported to the FDNY at 5:38 p.m. on Jan.1; 12 FDNY units responded to the two-story home with 60 fire and EMS personnel, according to a spokesperson for the FDNY. The blaze was placed under control at 6:26 p.m.

At the time, Division 8 Deputy Chief Gregg Hansson told the Advance/SILive.com that the fire started on the second floor in a bedroom.

While the fire was ultimately extinguished, the DeCristoforo family suffered the loss of young Rory.

THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED

Within hours of the fire, a GoFundMe was initiated, sharing the tragic news that the “dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty with a playful, loving spirit” had passed away.

The youngest of four children, Rory was the daughter of Meg and Mark DeCristoforo, the latter of whom is the athletic director and head football coach at St. Peter’s Boys High School.

In the days that followed, those at St. Peter’s Boys High School showcased unwavering support for their own. John Fodera, president of St. Peter’s, announced that the high school and its combined parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Peter-St. Paul and Assumption would cover funeral and burial costs and provide catered food for the family for weeks.

Roman Catholic high schools and elementary schools across the Island joined St. Peter’s in offering support and aid.

Rory’s passing also…