A five-alarm fire at Gabriel House, an assisted living facility in Fall River, resulted in nine deaths and several injuries. Firefighters arrived to find flames at the entrance and residents in distress. About 50 firefighters, aided by off-duty personnel, managed numerous rescues amid heavy smoke. Five firefighters sustained injuries but were not life-threatening. Emergency services transported over 30 individuals to local hospitals. Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon expressed condolences to the victims' families and commended the teamwork of police, fire, and EMS in carrying out rescues.
"That is something that none of us want to ever pull up to," Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon told reporters Monday morning, describing the chaotic scene. "And unfortunately, ... that happened here last night."
Firefighters responded to Gabriel House on Oliver Street at about 9:50 p.m. Sunday and found several residents trapped inside amid heavy smoke and flames, according to a news release from the state Fire Marshal's Office.
"The police department, fire department, and EMS were able to enact dozens of rescues to save multiple lives in this case," he explained during Monday's press conference.
"We just pour our prayers out to the families of those who were hurt and killed," Bacon told reporters.
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