2025 marked decline in Mass. fire deaths following spike in 2024, officials say

"The overall decline in deaths came despite the devastating Gabriel House Assisted Living fire in Fall River last July, which claimed 10 lives and marked the deadliest Massachusetts fire in decades. The majority of fatal fire victims in 2025, nearly 55 percent, were aged 65 or older, according to Davine. More than 90 percent of the year's fatalities took place in the victims' homes, with single-family homes accounting for 14 deaths, fire officials said. Nine people died in multi-family homes or apartments, four died in mobile homes, and three died in two-family homes."

"The most common factor by far contributing to last year's fatalities was the unsafe use or disposal of smoking materials, which caused 21 fire deaths, according to Davine. In incidents such as the Gabriel House tragedy, the dangerousness of these fires may have been exacerbated by smoking in the presence of medical oxygen."

"Smoke alarm operation was estimated to have contributed to 30 of the 40 residential fire deaths, fire officials said. Only 16 of these residences had working alarms, and in all other cases, they were either not working or missing altogether. Davine pointed to changes in building construction as the primary cause behind the fast growth and spread of many of these fires. Specifically, he cited synthetic furnishings, which "create deadly smoke and toxic gases as they burn.""

Excluding fatal motor vehicle collisions, Massachusetts recorded 44 fire deaths in 30 fires in 2025, down from 50 in 2024 and matching the five-year average of 44 per year from 2020 to 2024. The Gabriel House Assisted Living fire in Fall River in July claimed 10 lives and was the deadliest fire in decades. Nearly 55 percent of victims were aged 65 or older, and more than 90 percent of fatalities occurred in victims' homes. Unsafe use or disposal of smoking materials caused 21 deaths, smoke alarm failures contributed to many residential fatalities, and synthetic furnishings and modern construction accelerated fire spread and toxic smoke production.

Read at Boston.com