Nine people have died and more than 30 were hospitalised after a devastating fire tore through Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday night, with firefighters finding terrified elderly residents hanging from windows screaming for help.
The blaze erupted at approximately 9.30 p.m. at the 100-unit facility on Oliver Street, prompting a massive emergency response that included every on-duty firefighter in the city plus 30 off-duty personnel who were immediately recalled. One person remained in critical condition on Monday morning.
Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon described the scene as “chaotic” with heavy flames engulfing the main entrance and desperate residents trapped inside the smoke-filled building.
Desperate Rescue Efforts
“They showed up to the scene, obviously fire, smoke and victims screaming for rescue out windows, and it makes for a chaotic scene,” Chief Bacon told reporters at the scene. “We had every firefighter on duty in the city here. We had multiple firefighters off duty that were recalled that got up here quick enough to affect those rescues.”
First responders launched an extraordinary rescue operation, with Fall River Police officers arriving first and immediately entering the burning building. According to a police statement, officers “broke down doors and escorted residents to safety,” physically carrying approximately a dozen non-ambulatory residents to safety.
Firefighters rescued dozens of residents using ladders as thick smoke poured from the building. The fire damage was contained to one wing of the facility, but smoke damage spread throughout the entire structure.
Casualties and Injuries
More than 30 people were transported to area hospitals, with many suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. A triage centre was established in a nearby car park before victims were rushed to St Anne’s Hospital, located just 500 feet from the facility.
Five firefighters sustained what officials described as “mostly minor injuries” and have since been released from hospital. The rapid spread of smoke, rather than flames, appears to have been the primary danger to residents.
“The fire attack was very quick, it was just a very smoky fire,” Chief Bacon explained. He later described the tragedy as “unfathomable” in a statement released Monday morning.
Investigation Underway
State Fire Marshal Jon Davine confirmed that investigators from multiple agencies, including the Fall River Fire Department, State Fire Marshal’s Office, and Bristol District Attorney’s Office, are working to determine the cause of the blaze. No timeline has been given for when the investigation might conclude.
“We may have to bring in heavy machinery to start knocking the building down to get to some of the hotspots to get the fire out,” Chief Bacon said during an early morning press conference.
Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, who was at the scene Sunday night, told local media that some victims’ bodies remained inside the facility as of Monday morning whilst investigators worked to process the scene.
Community Response
The tragedy has devastated the tight-knit Fall River community, located approximately 50 miles south of Boston. A family reunification centre was established at St Anne’s Hospital chapel, where anxious relatives gathered seeking information about loved ones.
Leo and Josette Johnson were among those waiting for news. Their 68-year-old mother Carolyn, a top-floor resident, survived with low oxygen levels and smoke inhalation. “She’s one of the lucky ones,” Leo Johnson, 45, told reporters at the scene.
Mayor Coogan praised the heroic efforts of first responders, calling their work “a five-star job” in the face of an overwhelming emergency. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services echoed this sentiment, thanking all agencies involved in the rescue efforts.
Facility Background
Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility, built in 1999, housed approximately 70 residents at the time of the fire, according to Chief Bacon. The facility is listed on the state’s official registry as having 100 single-bed units.
For families seeking information about residents, authorities have established a dedicated phone line at 508-674-5741. Those visiting in person should enter St Anne’s Hospital through the emergency department entrance to access the family notification centre.
The city opened the Timao Centre shelter on Bay Street to accommodate evacuated residents who could not be immediately placed elsewhere. The American Red Cross and other agencies are assisting displaced survivors.
Wider Implications
This tragedy raises urgent questions about fire safety protocols in assisted living facilities across the United States. With an ageing population increasingly reliant on such care homes, ensuring adequate safety measures and emergency response plans is critical.
“On behalf of the Fall River Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones who are grieving this morning,” Chief Bacon said in his statement. Our heart goes out to all the families and people that were injured here and lost their lives here.
The investigation continues as the community mourns those lost in what officials are calling one of the worst fires in Fall River’s recent history.
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