Fire at a subsidized residential facility in Fall River. 9 deaths, 30 wounds
Nine people were killed and 30 people were injured in a fire at Gabriel House Assist Living Center in Fall River.
Fall River, Massachusetts — The 10th victim died after he swept a Massachusetts living facility earlier this week, injuring about 30 people and was injured in a July 17 fire.
Brenda Cropper, 66, was hospitalized in dangerous conditions after a fire broke out at the Gabriel House Assist Living Facility in Fall River, about 50 miles south of Boston on July 13.
The fire occurred shortly after the 9:30pm EAT at a living assistance facility that has around 70 people trapped in. After arriving at the scene, responding firefighters saw the front of the three-storey building engulfed in flames and smoke, with some residents screaming for help.
The first responder was forced to kick the door and pull people out the window. Several people were declared dead at the scene, and about 30 people were taken to a local hospital with the injured, including five Fall River firefighters.
A resident of Gabriel House who was killed in the fire was identified as 64-year-old Louis Albernaz. Ronald Cordga, 61; Margaret Daddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim McIn, 71; Richard Locon, 78; Eleanor Willett, 86; Joseph Willankey, 77. The county district attorney’s office has yet to publicly identify the 70-year-old woman who died in the fire.
On the afternoon of July 17, two patients from Gabriel House were undergoing treatment at Charlton Memorial Hospital, while the other two were still hospitalized at St. Anne Hospital in Fall River. Another patient was at the Level One Trauma Center at Rhode Island Hospital.
Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said all residents hospitalized at Gabriel House will not be discharged from the hospital until they set up a home in a facility that meets other assisted living or needs.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation
The investigation into the origins and causes of the fire continues by the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Section, working with the Fall River Fire Department and Police Department, the offices of the state fire service, with state police officers assigned to the County Attorney’s Office.
While the fire doesn’t look suspicious, investigators have not narrowed down the potential factors to a single cause, according to Jake Work, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fire Department. Bacon said the fire produced heavy smoke and the air conditioning unit blocked the windows made rescue difficult.
At a July 14 press conference, International Association of Firefighters President Edward Kelly pointed out the inadequate staffing of the Fall River Fire Station, pointing to the chronic staffing shortage of the division’s engine companies, saying only two of the 10 companies have staffed at the national standard of four firefighters per company.
In his speech, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan called for an immediate increase in the department’s budget.
Fall River Fire Chief: “They Make a Movie” About the heroic actions of firefighters
At a press conference on July 16, Bacon praised the actions of local firefighters and first responders. Crying occasionally, Bacon said he was extremely proud of the 35 Fall River Firefighters who first reported the fire, and the 50 people who fought it with the help of police and emergency medical services.
He described rescue by the crew of the Ladder 2 company. He searched the building and carried non-Americans on his own to await emergency medical services through thick black smoke.
“The driver in Ladder 2 did that action six times,” Bacon said, his voice broke. “These actions are heroic.”
According to the extent of the disaster and the circumstances that have fought fire and made rescues so difficult, he said, “There is no doubt that fire is destined to kill more than 50 people.”
“When all these stories come out, they’ll write a book about it. They’ll make a movie about it,” Bacon added. “It’s really incredible.”
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