A devastating fire tore through an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, late Sunday night, killing nine residents and sending more than 30 people to the hospital, including five firefighters with minor injuries.
The blaze broke out around 9:30 p.m. at Gabriel House, a residential facility located on Oliver Street. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy smoke and flames pouring from the main entrance, and several residents were seen hanging from windows waiting to be rescued, authorities said.
“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,” said Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon. “On behalf of the Fall River Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones who are grieving this morning.”
Roughly 70 people were living at Gabriel House at the time of the fire. As of Monday morning, more than 30 were hospitalized for injuries, and one resident remained in critical condition, officials said.
Chief Bacon noted that fire crews, along with police and EMS responders, managed to rescue at least a dozen people using ladders. The fire was confined to one wing of the building, he said.
In total, about 50 firefighters responded to the emergency, including 30 who were off duty when the alarm went out. The fire was fully extinguished by early Monday morning, according to Fall River Police Sgt. Ross Aubin. The cause remains under investigation.
Speaking at a Monday morning news conference, Mayor Paul Coogan addressed the community’s shock: “This is the kind of thing you don’t want in the middle of July. It’s Sunday night, and the city explodes around a tragedy like this; it’s not good for anybody.”
