A fire tore through Gabriel House in Fall River, Massachusetts on the night of July 13. The building housed about 70 elderly residents. By morning, nine were confirmed dead. The blaze started around 9:50 p.m. and spread fast. Flames poured through the front entrance. Smoke filled the halls. People were hanging out of windows, screaming for help.
Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said crews arrived to find multiple residents trapped. Some were pulled out by police who broke windows and carried people down stairwells. Others were rescued by firefighters who entered the smoke-filled building without hesitation. About 50 firefighters responded, including 30 who were off-duty. Five were injured. None critically.
Thirty residents were taken to hospitals. One remains in critical condition. The rest suffered smoke inhalation, burns, or trauma. The nearest hospital, Saint Anne’s, sits less than a block away. Ambulances lined the street. The fire was declared a mass casualty incident. The building’s sprinkler system activated, but the flames had already breached the front wing.
Gabriel House opened in 1999. It operates with 100 units and 24-hour staffing. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence requires assisted living facilities to maintain emergency-ready personnel. The state has not released inspection records. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No foul play has been confirmed.
Residents described chaos. One woman was on the phone with her father, urging him to break a window. He was too weak. She directed firefighters to his location. He survived. Others were not as fortunate. Police say about a dozen non-ambulatory residents were physically carried out. Some were missing limbs. Some were in wheelchairs. The rescue effort was described as “five-star” by Mayor Paul Coogan.
The fire was contained to one wing, but smoke damage spread throughout the building. Pets were also pulled from the wreckage. Some were treated with water bottles and towels on the sidewalk. The community is reeling. Families are grieving. The facility remains closed. The investigation continues.
Sources:
https://www.today.com/news/fall-river-massachusetts-assisted-living-facility-fire-rcna218620
