Fire official: Fire that killed 3 in Garden City potentially caused by cigarette smoker
Nassau County police and firefighters from multiple departments responded to a May 6 house fire on Washington Avenue in Garden City that killed three people. Credit: Howard Schnapp
A devastating fire that tore through a Garden City home earlier this month, killing three members of a single family, was potentially caused by an individual who was smoking, Nassau County Assistant Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said.
The May 6 blaze on Washington Avenue that killed Joseph Madigan, 62, Gail Madigan, 60, and their 18-year-old daughter Molly, was deemed "accidental" and attributed potentially to a person smoking cigarettes on the first floor, Uttaro said.
The home had two smoke detectors, both of which were inoperable, Uttaro said, and the fire remains under investigation.
"The best way of honoring these folks that tragically lost their lives that day would be to go home to your own home and check and make sure your smoke detectors work," Uttaro said. "It's a learning moment."
Gail Madigan was a longtime volunteer leader of the local Parent Teacher Association, while Molly Madigan, a Garden City High School senior, was an accomplished musician, performing in chamber and concert choirs and in the school's vocal jazz ensemble. She was headed to her dream school, NYU Steinhart School of Music, in the fall.
The couple had three older children, Claire, Emily and John, according to a GoFundMe page for the family that has raised more than $245,000 to date.
"As a community, Garden City always looks for ways to help," the GoFundMe page said. "At this time, the best way to contribute is to donate toward the expenses that the family will face."
Clarification: After initial publication, Michael Uttaro clarified that cigarette smoking is a "potential cause" of the fire, which is not considered suspicious but is still under investigation. Uttaro is first assistant chief fire marshal for Nassau County; an earlier version of this story had an incorrect title.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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