9 killed, 30 hospitalized after Fall River assisted living facility fire

Nine people were killed and at least 30 were hospitalized after a fire ripped through an assisted living facility in Fall River Sunday night, the city’s fire chief said.

The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, drawing every firefighter in the city to the scene of the Gabriel House assisted living facility on Oliver Street. When firefighters arrived, several residents were calling for help out of their windows, Chief Jeffrey Bacon said.

“That is something that none of us want to ever pull up to,” he said at a press conference outside the facility.

Firefighters took 30 people to hospitals, one of whom was in critical condition Monday morning, Bacon said. But the number of those injured is likely higher, he said, as several residents checked themselves in to the hospital.

Bacon did not immediately identify those killed or provide their ages. In addition to the residents, five firefighters were injured in the response, all of whom are expected to be OK, Bacon said.

Five alarms were struck during the response to the fire, drawing roughly 50 firefighters to the scene, 30 of whom were off-duty, officials said.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fire. About 70 people lived at the facility.

Officials urged families seeking information on residents to call 508-674-5741. A family notification center was set up at the chapel of St. Anne’s Hospital, which can be accessed using the emergency room of the hospital.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan praised the work of emergency responders.

“The city was able to mobilize extremely quickly to prevent further deaths, get people into shelter, get people medical care, it was working like a trip hammer over here and I’m very proud of that,” he said.