Nine people have been killed and dozens are hurt when a fire went through an assisted life installation in Fall River, Massachusetts, authorities said.
Some 50 firefighters, including about 30 that were out of service, descended on the fire scene on Sunday night at the assisted life facilities of the Gabriel house, authorities said.
Some people were rescued through their windows in the building difficult to access, said Fall River firefighters Jeffrey Bacon. Around 12 “non -outpatient residents were physically carried out by our officers,” according to Fall River police.
Fall River firefighters, Jeffrey Bacon, on the right, speaks with another official after a fire at the life center assisted by the Gabriel house in Fall River, Massachusetts, Monday, July 14, 2025.
Michael Casey/AP
Thirty people, including five firefighters, were taken to local hospitals after five alarms, said Bacon.
A person is critical, Bacon said. The five firefighters have already been released, authorities said.
The building, which was home to about 70 people, is now clear, authorities said.
It is not clear if the sprinklers left, the authorities said.
Fall River firefighters respond to a fire in Gabriel House, on July 14, 2025, in Fall River, Massachusetts.
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Fall River, near the border of Massachusetts-Rhode Island, is about 50 miles south of Boston.
“My heart is with those who wake up with the most horrible news about their loved ones this morning,” said Massachusetts, Maura Healey, in a statement on Monday. “I am grateful to the firefighters and the first to respond whose heroic efforts saved lives. We all pray for those who lost their loved ones and for the complete recovery of the injured.”
“A complete investigation is already underway,” he continued. “I know that the people of Fall River are strong and resistant, and now it is the time for us to all unite to support each other through this terrible tragedy.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation. An informed officer about the investigation told ABC News that, as a preliminary matter, the fire does not seem intentionally established. Most likely, said the source, seems to have been caused by some kind of electrical or mechanical problem.
The building was built in 1964 and underwent an external remodeling in 2000, according to fiscal evaluation records. It was included in the evaluation form used by the city as a physical condition “average of good” from this February, according to the records.
This is a development story. Consult the updates again.
Jared Kofsky, Matt Foster and Jessica Gorman of ABC News contributed to this report.
