Vigil Held To Remember Students Who Died In Fire

FROSTBURG, Md. (WJZ) --It was an evening of deep hurt and fond remembrance as the college community of Frostburg mourned two students killed in a fire.

Alex Demetrick was at Sunday's vigil where two bright students were honored.

Frostburg  is a small, tight-knit campus that drew itself closer in grief. While snow fell outside, Frostburg State University's gym filled within for a vigil to remember two students-- 23-year-old Evan Kullberg of Frostburg and 20-year-old Alyssa Salazar of Annapolis.

The couple died when fire swept their off-campus apartment on Friday morning. Eight students escaped, but Salazar and Kullberg were trapped inside.

The fatal fire stunned the campus;  Sunday night's vigil was an effort to find comfort.

"Oh, it makes a big difference," said Frostburg student Jennifer Fernandez. "It makes people feel like they're doing something about it."

"The fraternity is really struggling to keep it together," said Emanuel Simon, friend to the victim. "People have been very supportive."

Investigators believe the fire was accidental, sparked by a  wood-burning stove.

"He would never have let anything happen to us—ever," said Evan's mother Karol Kullberg. "He was going for [Alyssa]  too.  Cause every room had a window. He could have jumped out a window, but he didn't."

"If you ever needed somebody he was there, regardless of who you were" said Simon in tears.

Evan's sisters responded to the outpour of sympathy from students and staff.

"That means the world to us," said his sister Kristen Kullberg. "I just want to thank everyone for coming, and I just know that Evan's spirit lives on in all his friends, and Alyssa's spirit lives on."

Family services will be held later this week.

Investigators say they couldn't find any sign of smoke detectors inside the apartment.  Alyssa Salazar was an early childhood education major. Evan Kullberg was majoring in business.