9 Dead, 1 In Critical Condition After Fire At Fall River Assisted Living Facility

A calamity successful Fall River, Massachusetts, as a deadly occurrence tore done an assisted surviving installation connected Sunday night.

Nine group were killed, and 1 personification remains hospitalized successful captious condition, Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said astatine a property convention Monday morning. He said much than 30 group were taken to area hospitals and dozens of group were rescued complete ladders.

The occurrence harm was contained to 1 helping of nan building, but location is fume harm throughout.

It wasn’t needfully ample flames, but alternatively a ton of smoke, that led to nan chaotic scene.

Numerous group were sent to nan infirmary and “multiple fatalities” were reported erstwhile news of nan occurrence collapsed overnight, though nan nonstop number of dormant had not been released until Monday morning.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogen told WJAR connected Monday morning that nan bodies of immoderate of nan group who died were still wrong nan facility. Medical examiners are now astatine nan scene.

“This is an unfathomable calamity for nan families progressive and nan Fall River community,” Bacon said successful a connection Monday morning. “On behalf of nan Fall River Fire Department, I want to definitive our heartfelt condolences to nan loved ones who are grieving this morning.”

According to occurrence officials, nan occurrence collapsed retired astir 9:30 p.m. Sunday astatine nan Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence connected Oliver Street. Every azygous firefighter successful nan metropolis was called in, including 30 off-duty firefighters. When crews arrived, they saw group hanging retired of nan windows looking to beryllium rescued arsenic dense fume and flames poured from nan beforehand of nan building.

Firefighters instantly entered nan building, rescuing galore occupants while besides attempting to extinguish nan fire.

Some were taken to nan hospital, and others died.

“They showed up to nan scene, evidently fire, fume and victims screaming for rescue retired windows, and it makes for a chaotic scene,” Bacon said astatine nan scene. “We had each firefighter connected work successful nan metropolis was here. We had aggregate firefighters disconnected work that were recalled that sewage up present speedy capable to impact those rescues.”

It’s uncertain precisely really galore group lived astatine nan facility, but nan occurrence main said it’s astir 70.

A family notification halfway has been group up astatine nan chapel of St. Anne’s Hospital nearby. Families seeking accusation connected residents tin telephone 508-674-5741 aliases usage nan Emergency Room entranceway to entree nan center.

Five firefighters were besides sent to nan infirmary pinch non-life-threatening injuries and person since been released.

The root and origin of nan occurrence remains nether investigation by nan Fall River Fire Department, Fall River constabulary and authorities constabulary assigned to nan State Fire Marshal’s Office and nan Bristol District Attorney’s Office.