WASHINGTON– A massive fire tore through the Gabriel House assisted living center in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday night, leaving multiple people injured and several feared dead, according to Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as flames rapidly consumed parts of the 100-bed facility, prompting a large-scale rescue operation. While the total number of casualties has not yet been confirmed, officials described the situation as severe.
“When our crew arrived, they encountered heavy fire and saw several residents hanging out of windows, desperate to be rescued,” said Chief Bacon at a press briefing Monday. “Firefighters managed to rescue multiple individuals and transport them to the hospital, but unfortunately, we have confirmed multiple fatalities and injuries.”
Roughly 50 firefighters were deployed to battle the multi-alarm blaze, with mutual aid teams called in to support operations across the city. The fire was intense and smoke-heavy, requiring swift response and extraordinary effort from emergency responders.
“We may need to bring in heavy machinery to demolish parts of the building to reach hotspots and fully extinguish the fire,” Bacon said.
“Our hearts go out to all the families affected by this tragedy—those who were injured and those who lost loved ones,” he added.
Five Fall River firefighters were also transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.
The fire broke out at Gabriel House, located at 261 Oliver Street near South Main Street in Fall River’s South End. Approximately 69 residents were believed to be living in the complex at the time of the incident.
A family reunification center has been established at the chapel at St. Anne’s Hospital to assist those affected. Meanwhile, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan announced that the Timao Center on Bay Street has been opened as a temporary shelter for evacuated residents.
Investigators from the Fall River Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office are on site and will be working over the coming hours to determine the cause of the fire. (Source: IANS)
