9 dead in fire at Gabriel House assisted living home in Fall River, Massachusetts. “Unfathomable tragedy,” chief says.
Nine people died in a fire in a home of life assisted in Fall River, Massachusetts, according to the authorities. The chief of the firefighters called him “an unfathomable tragedy”.
Flames broke out on Sunday around 9:30 p.m. at Gabriel House on Oliver Street. When the firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames and smoke which pass through the main entrance and several people dragging windows, waiting to be rescued, according to the chief of the firefighters of Fall River, Jeffrey Bacon.
More than 30 people were transported to the hospital and five firefighters suffered minor injuries, Bacon said at an emotional press conference. In addition to the nine deaths, a person was in critical condition Monday morning.
“We had at least a dozen people rescued on scales. The police service, the fire service and the EMS were able to promulgate dozens of rescues to save several lives,” said Bacon.
There is no word yet on how or where the fire started. About 50 firefighters were called, including around thirty who were on leave, said Marshal Jon Davine.
“Fall River’s fire fires and the provost of fire provides will be in the building with the compliance of the code and they will try to go up the scene and understand what exactly happened,” said the firefighter chief.
The mayor of Fall River, Paul Coogan, said that there were sprinklers in the building. Bacon told journalists that fire damage was contained in a wing, but there is smoke damage throughout the three -story house. Alarms could be heard in the background at the press conference, but Bacon did not know if they worked at the time of the fire.
“Smoke kills more people than fire, every day in America. I think the lesson that can be learned here is to listen to your smoke detectors and react because smoke is a very fatal force,” he said.
“An unfathomable tragedy for families”
“This is an unfathomable tragedy for families involved and the community of Fall River,” said Bacon in a statement before the press conference on Monday. “On behalf of Fall River’s fire service, I want to express our sincere condolences to relatives who are in mourning this morning.”
Families who had relatives at home can get more information at the Chapel of St. Anne hospital, which is facing the center of assisted life. They can also call 508-674-5741.
The Gabriel house has 100 single bed units, according to its website and Mass.gov. The state fire commissioner said that around 70 people lived at home before the fire.
Fall River is about 80 kilometers south of Boston and 20 miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island.
