Fire rages through Massachusetts care facility, leaving 9 lives in its wake; details unveiled
In a heart-wrenching incident, a fire broke out at Gabriel House, an assisted-living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Nine residents tragically lost their lives, ranging in age from 61 to 86, and dozens more were injured, one critically.
Frank O'Regan, a firefighter who arrived 40 minutes into the response, described the fire as one of the worst loss of life he's seen in his career. Upon arrival, he found residents still trapped on the third floor of Gabriel House, many of whom were unable to walk or were dependent on oxygen tanks, making evacuation particularly challenging.
The scope of the rescue effort overwhelmed first responders, with about 65 firefighters on the scene at the peak, including many who were off duty. Some off-duty fire responders had to rush to the fire without breathing equipment, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the emergency.
Gabriel House, founded in 1999, housed around 70 residents at the time of the fire. The facility was set for recertification and a compliance review in November. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence, the state agency responsible for certifying assisted-living residences, last conducted an onsite visit at Gabriel House in October 2023.
Massachusetts relies on sufficient staffing tailored to resident needs, mandated fire evacuation plans, and quarterly inspections to uphold safety standards in assisted-living facilities. However, staffing levels are somewhat subjective based on the residents' independence, and there appear to be challenges in certain facility design elements impacting emergency response effectiveness.
For instance, some issues arise related to physical obstacles during emergencies, such as window air conditioning units seen in some facilities, like Gabriel House, that may hamper evacuation efforts for residents with mobility impairments. These units are legal under current regulations, as air conditioning is not mandated—only heating is required in assisted living residences.
The fire at Gabriel House has brought into focus the unique challenges of rescuing assisted-living residents, many of whom are in wheelchairs, immobile, and have oxygen tanks. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey emphasised these challenges, stating that many were in wheelchairs, immobile, and had oxygen tanks. Some residents were rescued through windows, and in some cases, air conditioning units had to be pushed out of windows to pull people to safety.
Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, noted that eight more firefighters could have been available if the standard was met. National standards call for four firefighters per company, but only two of Fall River's 10 companies meet that.
The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious at this time, according to authorities. The incident has sparked a call for a review of safety measures in Massachusetts assisted-living facilities, with a focus on staffing levels, facility design, and emergency preparedness.
- The fire at Gabriel House, a Massachusetts assisted-living facility, resulted in the tragic loss of nine residents, ranging from 61 to 86 years old, and left many more with injuries, including one critically.
- The rescue operation was unprecedented, involving about 65 firefighters, including some who had to rush to the scene without breathing equipment, due to the challenges posed by the elderly, disabled, and immobile residents of the facility.
- Gabriel House, founded in 1999, was set for recertification and a compliance review in November, but issues such as physical obstacles during emergencies, like window air conditioning units, are raising concerns about the effectiveness of emergency response in assisted-living facilities.
- The fire has led to calls for a review of safety measures in Massachusetts assisted-living facilities, focusing on staffing levels, facility design, and emergency preparedness, with the aim of improving rescue operations for the elderly and physically impaired residents.
