What began as an ordinary Sunday evening in southern Massachusetts ended in heartbreak and devastation when a fire erupted inside a senior care facility, claiming nine lives and injuring many more.
The peaceful atmosphere of the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility was shattered around 9:30 p.m., leaving families, emergency responders, and an entire community reeling.
Elderly Residents Trapped and Terrified
When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they were met with a horrifying sight—elderly residents desperately calling for help, some hanging out of windows, unable to escape the flames.
Firefighters raced into action, trying to save as many lives as possible.
According to Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, more than 30 individuals were transported to local hospitals, with one still in critical condition.
A Massive Response from Firefighters
The scale of the fire was immense.
It triggered five separate alarms and brought out around 50 firefighters, many of whom were off duty but responded immediately upon hearing the news.
Unfortunately, even with their swift action, nine people lost their lives.
Five firefighters sustained injuries during the rescue but have since been released from the hospital.
Families Desperately Sought Their Loved Ones
For the families of those inside, it was a night of unimaginable fear.
One woman named Melanie shared an emotional account of trying to guide her father to safety over the phone.
Her father, too weak to break a window or move far, believed he wouldn’t survive.
He sobbed to his daughter from the bathroom, thinking his time had run out.
Whether he made it out alive remains uncertain.
First Responders Risked Their Lives
Police officers were the first to arrive and wasted no time in breaking through doors to help trapped residents.
Some officers physically carried individuals who couldn’t walk, dragging them away from the growing blaze.
The Fall River Police Department later praised their team’s quick-thinking and heroism, crediting them with saving numerous lives.
Chaplain Shares Pain of Unprecedented Loss
Fire Chaplain Michael Racine, who has witnessed many tragedies, called this one the most heartbreaking of his career.
He took to social media to express the emotional toll of witnessing such a high number of fatalities in a single night.
“We pray for the injured, the deceased, and their grieving families,” he wrote.
Over 70 Residents Inside During the Fire
Officials confirmed that about 70 people were inside the building at the time of the fire.
The Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility, which has 100 units and was built in 1999, is located just outside Providence, Rhode Island, on the Massachusetts side.
Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and it’s still unclear whether the building’s sprinkler system was functioning when the flames broke out.
Reunification Efforts Underway
In the aftermath, a reunification center was quickly set up at St. Anne’s Hospital on Middle Street to help families reconnect with loved ones.
A hotline (508-674-5741) has also been made available to assist concerned relatives seeking information about residents from the facility.
What’s Next for the Investigation?
While the community continues to grieve, authorities are working to determine what sparked this deadly fire.
Many questions remain unanswered: Was the sprinkler system operational?
Were fire protocols followed?
Could this tragedy have been prevented?
Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are now tasked with finding those answers.
A Town United in Grief
Fall River is mourning, but it’s also standing together.
As Fire Chief Bacon shared during a somber press conference, “Our hearts go out to the families of those hurt and those who didn’t make it.
Fall River stands with them in this moment of pain.”
For now, the city remembers the lives lost and honors the bravery of those who ran toward danger to help others.