{{Short description|2000 fatal fire in New Jersey, US}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox event | title = Boland Hall fire | image = | caption = | date = {{Start date|2000|1|19}} | time = 4:29 a.m. | venue = Boland Hall, Seton Hall University | location = South Orange, New Jersey, United States | coordinates ={{coord|40|44|38.5|N|74|14|53.2|W|region:US-NJ_type:landmark|display=title}} | type = Fire | cause = Arson | reported deaths = 3 | reported injuries =56-62 | reported missing = | reported property damage = | arrests = | suspects = | accused = | convicted ={{ubl|Sean Ryan|Joseph LePore}} | charges = | verdict = | convictions = | sentence = 5 years prison }}The '''Boland Hall fire''' was a fatal fire in Boland Hall, a freshman residence hall on the Seton Hall University campus in South Orange, New Jersey, United States on January 19, 2000. Three students died and 58 were injured, several with very serious burns. It was one of the deadliest college fires in recent U.S. history.
Two students who started the fire as a prank were indicted in mid-2003, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in late 2006, and were sentenced to five years' imprisonment in early 2007.
== Building == Boland Hall is a multi-story brick dormitory used by 600 freshmen at Seton Hall University. The building was built in multiple stages between 1952 and 1966 and lacked sprinklers, which was permitted by the state fire code as the structure was completed before sprinklers were mandated. Students knew the building for having consistently egregious fire alarms, including a series of alarms during finals week. As a result, residents often assumed fire alarms were egregious and slow to react.<ref name=":6" /> In an interview, one resident discussed how students hid under beds or in showers to avoid the resident assistants who forced students to evacuate into cold weather during previous alarms.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Students Say They Learned to Tune Out Alarms |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/012000nj-seton-students.html |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=archive.nytimes.com}}</ref>
Several fire hoses inside the building were previously disconnected by the University, which cited firefighter's preference to use their own equipment.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Dan |date=20 January 2000 |title=Fire Kills 3 at Seton Hall |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/regional/012000seton-fire-edu.html |access-date=2026-03-14 |website=New York Times}}</ref> Other hoses were reportedly inoperable after neglect, although 55 fire extinguishers were stashed inside.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-20-mn-55831-story.html|title=Three Die in Dormitory Fire at Seton Hall University|last=Goldman|first=John|date=2000-01-20|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-06-16|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Boland Hall had a history of minor fires, including two on the same day in 1996.<ref name=":6" />
== Fire == The fire began around 4:30 a.m. on January 19, 2000, when most students were asleep. Two students, later identified as Sean Ryan and Joseph LePore, set fire to a paper banner that had been partially torn off from a wall display, located in a third floor lounge.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/florham_park_man_imprisoned_fo.html|title=Man convicted in fatal Seton Hall dorm fire waives right to parole consideration|last=T|first=Brian|date=2009-11-11|website=nj.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> In their account, the two men were intoxicated and decided to set fire to the banner as a prank, which would cause the smoke detectors to go off and the students would evacuate into {{convert|20|°F|°C}} weather. Ryan lit a match, passed it to LePore, who passed it back to Ryan, who "flicked" it onto the corner of the banner. They then left the banner smoldering and unattended before returning to their room about {{convert|30|ft}} from the lounge.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2009/a6298-07-opn.html|title=SEAN M. RYAN, v. NEW JERSEY STATE PAROLE BOARD|website=Justia Law|language=en|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> The fire spread rapidly across three couches in the third floor lounge and approached temperatures of up to {{convert|1500|°F|°C}} in less than five minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2015/Q1/burned-survivors-of-seton-hall-university-fire-in-2000-to-speak-on-fateful-night,-aftermath.html|title=Burned survivors of Seton Hall University fire in 2000 to speak on fateful night, aftermath - Purdue University|last=Bush|first=Jim|date=January 22, 2015|website=www.purdue.edu|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref>
Though no accelerant was used, the fire burned hot enough to melt the synthetic carpet of the hall, causing severe injuries to many of the students attempting to escape the conflagration by crawling on the floor to reach the stairs. In an effort to aid the evacuation of students, the resident assistant for the third floor, Dana Christmas, ran down the halls and knocked on doors in an effort to wake students up and alert them to the danger.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/01/30/seton-hall-campus-fire-safety-bill/|title=17 Years After Deadly Seton Hall Dorm Fire, Lawmakers Introduce Bill Aimed At Improving Campus Fire Safety|date=2017-01-30|language=en|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref>
Most students on the third floor evacuated through the thick smoke using the staircases; a few jumped over {{convert|40|ft}} to the ground.
Despite the chaos, multiple students were unaware of any emergency. One student in the building learned of the fire two hours after it started from a phone call from her father, while another resident slept through the event and woke up at 1 p.m. after the building had been searched for survivors.<ref name=":7" />
== Victims == Three students died; Aaron Karol and Frank Caltabilota died of thermal injuries, and John Giunta died due to smoke inhalation. Two of the deceased were found in a lounge, and the third was found in a nearby room.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jan-20-mn-55831-story.html|title=Three Die in Dormitory Fire at Seton Hall University|last=Goldman|first=John|date=2000-01-20|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-06-16|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Fifty-six students, police officers and firefighters were injured, four seriously enough to require lengthy hospital stays and rehabilitation.
The three students who died were honored with bachelor's degrees at the Class of 2003 graduation ceremony. On anniversaries of the fire, the University hosts a memorial Mass in honor of the victims at the memorial installed near the dormitory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/essex/2015/01/victims_families_survivors_remember_fatal_seton_ha.html|title=Victims' families, survivors remember fatal Seton Hall fire (PHOTOS)|last=Mazzola|first=Jessica|date=2015-01-20|website=nj.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref>
== Aftermath == As the dormitory did not have sprinklers, they were installed in all dormitories on Seton Hall's campus in the summer of 2000.<ref name=":5" /> Shortly after the fire, New Jersey passed legislation that required all dormitories to have sprinklers within four years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2020/01/16/20-years-after-fatal-seton-hall-dorm-blaze-campus-fire-safety-fight-continues/2844559001/|title='Second chance at life': Survivors still push fire safety 20 years after Seton Hall blaze|last=Adely|first=Hannan|date=16 January 2020|website=NorthJersey.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116171656/https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2020/01/16/20-years-after-fatal-seton-hall-dorm-blaze-campus-fire-safety-fight-continues/2844559001/ |archive-date=2020-01-16 |access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref> In 2017, US Senator Bob Menendez, US Representative Bill Pascrell, and US Representative Donald Payne Jr. joined safety advocates, local officials and University representatives to announce the Campus Fire Safety Education Act. Through the Act, higher education institutions could apply on their own or in collaboration with nonprofit fire safety organizations and public safety departments to receive funding to initiate, expand or improve fire safety programs on campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shu.edu/news/congressmen-introduce-campus-fire-safety-education-act.cfm|title=Congressmen Introduce Campus Fire Safety Education Legislation|date=2017-01-27|website=Seton Hall University|language=en|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=2019-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616173135/https://www.shu.edu/news/congressmen-introduce-campus-fire-safety-education-act.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Investigations == A report about the fire was created for the legal team for the defense by Doug Carpenter and Rick Roby, who are fire investigators at Combustion Science & Engineering Inc., who had previously filed another report that claimed the prosecutor's investigation was biased. The investigation following the fire reported that faulty reporting procedures as well as inadequate fire safety precautions by officials at Seton Hall University contributed substantially to the deaths and injuries.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-08-18-0608180144-story.html|title=Experts for defense fault Seton Hall in fatal dorm fire|last=Possley|first=Maurice|date=August 18, 2006|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> It also revealed that Boland Hall lacked sprinklers,<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://asumag.com/mag/university_fire_safety_line/ |title=In the Line of Fire |publisher=Asumag.com |accessdate=2010-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809114428/http://asumag.com/mag/university_fire_safety_line/ |archive-date=2010-08-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although the university claimed that at the time that the residence hall was still in compliance with the building code.<ref name=SetonDefensive/> The report created by the defense team found that the ignition location for the fire was most likely a dropped cigarette and not arson.<ref name=":3" />
In response, New Jersey enacted the first mandatory residence hall sprinkler law in the nation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metro Briefing {{!}} New Jersey: New Brunswick: Rutgers Installs Sprinklers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/03/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-jersey-new-brunswick-rutgers-installs-sprinklers.html|accessdate=February 11, 2011|newspaper=New York Times|date=May 3, 2004}}</ref>
== Litigation == A state law provided legal immunity to Seton Hall University from negligence claims, due to its status as a religious, nonprofit charitable institution. However, in 2001, the University reached a settlement deal with families of some of the victims, including two that died in the fire and 10 that were injured.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/26/nyregion/seton-hall-reaches-settlements-with-families-two-victims-killed-dormitory-fire.html|title=Seton Hall Reaches Settlements With Families of Two Victims Killed in Dormitory Fire|last=Hanley|first=Robert|date=January 26, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>
After a three-and-a-half-year investigation, on June 12, 2003, a 60-count indictment charged two freshmen students, Sean Ryan and Joseph LePore, with starting the fire and felony murder for the deaths which resulted. During an attempt to arrest LePore, officers used an unmarked police vehicle with sirens and lights to get LePore to stop his vehicle; however LePore backed his vehicle into the police officers after both had come to a stop.<ref name=":1" />
On November 15, 2006, LePore and Ryan admitted that they had set the fire and pleaded guilty to third-degree arson<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/nyregion/16seton.html Plea Deal in Seton Hall Dormitory Fire], ''NY Times'', November 16, 2006</ref> as well as witness tampering.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16827370|title=Two sentenced for deadly dorm fire|last=AP|first=Mike Derer /|date=2007-01-26|website=msnbc.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> LePore also pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons charge after he had attempted to avoid police when he was arrested on the 2003 indictment.<ref name=":0" /> Their pleas were part of a plea deal, in which they pled guilty for a reduced sentence and dropped charges against LePore's parents, sister and friend that included hindering apprehension.<ref name=":4" />
On January 26, 2007, they were sentenced to five years in a youth correctional facility, but were eligible for parole after 16 months.<ref name=":1" /> The families of the victims strongly condemned the two suspects during the sentencing hearing, calling them "cowards" for running away after setting the fire instead of helping to evacuate the dorm.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120701101514/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4973967 Two sentenced in Seton Hall fire case - Joseph Lepore and Sean Ryan get 5 years for setting dorm fire that killed 3], ''Eyewitness News'', Jan. 26, 2007</ref>
On March 31, 2008, both LePore and Ryan were denied parole from the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Yardville, where they had been incarcerated since February 2007. LePore was to be eligible for parole after another 18 months, and Ryan after another 11.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/nyregion/01seton.html Parole Denied for 2 Who Set Seton Hall Fire], ''THE ASSOCIATED PRESS'', April 1, 2008 - accessed July 17, 2009</ref>
On May 6, 2009, Ryan was released on parole.<ref>[http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-13/124170574063320.xml&coll=1 First of Seton Hall arsonists leaves prison] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605143310/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-13/124170574063320.xml&coll=1 |date=2011-06-05 }}, ''The Star Ledger'', May 7, 2009 - accessed July 17, 2009</ref> However, LePore waived his right to be considered for parole and decided to serve out the remainder of his prison sentence and was scheduled to be released no later than 2010.<ref name=":0" /> LePore served less than three years in confinement.<ref name="NJ 2020" />
Following Ryan's release, he reportedly moved to New York City to work in business. He has a wife and child. LePore married in 2012, started a family, and is reported to be in the home-improvement business.<ref name="NJ 2020">{{cite news |last1=Napoliello |first1=Alex |title=Seton Hall dorm fire: A look at where some of the key people are today |url=https://www.nj.com/essex/2020/01/seton-hall-dorm-fire-a-look-at-where-some-of-the-key-people-are-today.html |accessdate=18 January 2020 |agency=NJ Advance Media}}</ref>
== Depiction in media == Matt Rainey won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for his series in ''The Star-Ledger'' depicting the recovery of two students who sustained serious burns and injuries from the fire.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alum's Pulitzer Prize-winning photos featured in Seton Hall fire documentary |publisher=masongross.rutgers.edu |url=http://www.masongross.rutgers.edu/visual-arts/pulitzer-prize}}</ref> The recovery of two of the injured students was also documented by Guido Verweyen, who created the documentary "After the Fire: A True Story of Heroes & Cowards".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watry |first=Greg |date=April 22, 2015 |title=After the fire: Seton Hall students tell story |url=https://www.njherald.com/story/28875761/after-the-fire-seton-hall-students-tell-story |access-date=2019-06-16 |website=New Jersey Herald |language=en |archive-date=2019-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616164650/https://www.njherald.com/story/28875761/after-the-fire-seton-hall-students-tell-story |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFTER THE FIRE - A True Story of Heroes and Cowards |url=http://www.afterthefiremovie.com/ |access-date=2019-06-16 |website=www.afterthefiremovie.com}}</ref>
== References == <references>
<ref name=SetonDefensive>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1163656277107360.xml&coll=1 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118020607/http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1163656277107360.xml&coll=1 |archivedate=2006-11-18 |title=Seton still on defensive, despite a safer dorm |url-status=dead |access-date=2018-09-15 }}</ref>
</references>
== Further reading == * Robin Gaby Fisher: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110929024743/http://www.littlebrown.co.uk/Title/9780316066228 After the Fire: A True Story of Friendship]. Little Brown and Company 2008. {{ISBN|0-316-06621-4}} *[https://www.nj.com/news/2020/01/the-seton-hall-fire-took-3-lives-twenty-years-later-their-families-still-struggle-with-heartbreak.html The Seton Hall fire took 3 lives. Twenty years later, their families still struggle with heartbreak]
== External links == * {{Cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/news/setonhallfire/ |title=Special Report with The Star-Ledger: Seton Hall Fire |access-date=October 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016071252/http://www.nj.com/news/setonhallfire/ |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=bot: unknown |df=mdy-all }}
{{Seton_Hall University}}
Category:South Orange, New Jersey Category:Seton Hall University Category:School fires in the United States Category:Arson in New Jersey Category:January 2000 crimes in the United States Category:2000 murders in the United States Category:2000 fires in the United States Category:2000 in New Jersey Category:Arson in 2000 Category:2000s crimes in New Jersey