Investigators work to pinpoint cause of Massachusetts assisted living facility fire that killed 9
Investigators are working to pinpoint the cause of a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, that claimed the lives of nine residents and left 30 people injured.
as they responded to the Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence, where crews encountered heavy smoke and trapped residents hanging out of their windows screaming for help.
The police department, fire department and EMS rescued dozens of residents from the facility, which housed 69 people.
Some of the nine victims died at the scene, while others died after they were transported to local hospitals.
The seven of the deceased as Rui Albernaz, 64; Ronald Codega, 61; Margaret Duddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim Mackin, 71; Richard Rochon, 78; and Eleanor Willett, 86. The office said a 70-year-old woman and 77-year-old man were still pending notification of family.
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"Were it not for the heroic work -- the brave work -- these men and women showed last night, particularly our fire, police and EMS, we would have seen a much greater loss of life," said Gov. Maura Healey, who visited the scene Monday. "To the family and friends of those who perished, I offer my condolences and sympathy on behalf of the commonwealth for this tragic loss."
The fire went to five alarms and drew about 50 firefighters to the scene, including about 30 who were off-duty. Neighbors and police also helped break down doors and carry people out.
Neighbor Manny Rivera said he woke up to the sound of people screaming. He's one of several neighbors who used their own ladders to help rescue the trapped residents. Another neighbor brought an ax to break the windows. They climbed up to three rooms until arriving firefighters could jump in to help.
A firefighters union said to the fire as residents praised firefighters and police for their heroic rescue efforts.
Video below: Union raises staffing concerns
Dennis Etzkorn, the facility's owner, declined to comment Monday, but officials said he was cooperating with what Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon called a "very extensive investigation."
Several residents were pronounced deceased at the scene. Many more were transported to local and regional hospitals in varying conditions.
Family members described chaos as residents hung out of windows trying to escape the flames. One woman said her father called her as he was trapped in his room and she had to direct firefighters to his location.
"He was on the floor talking to me, and I am crying telling him, 'Break the window. Try to break,' it because he is so weak, and he couldn't break it, and I am like, 'Where are you?' and he was like, 'I am in the bathroom,' and I said open your bathroom window, and he said, 'It is open, but they are not hearing me. They are not hearing me, Melanie. I am going to die in here,'" the woman said.
The fire damage was contained to one wing of the building; however the smoke damage is throughout the entire facility, officials said.
Displaced residents who survived the fire were taken to a local shelter.
Gabriel House is an assisted living facility that allows older adults to live independently with help. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence reports Gabriel House first opened in 1999 and has 100 units.
The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation by the Fall River Fire Department, Fall River Police, State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office and State Police assigned to the Bristol DA’s office. District Attorney Thomas Quinn's office said the cause does not appear to be suspicious.
The fire is the deadliest fire in Massachusetts since 1984, when 15 people died in a fire at a rooming house in Beverly. In 1999, six Worcester firefighters were killed in a warehouse fire. In 2000, five people were killed when flames raced through an office building in Newton.