Tragedy at Gabriel House: 9 Dead in Assisted Living Fire in Fall River

Fall River, Massachusetts — July 11, 2025 — A devastating fire tore through the Gabriel House assisted living facility on Sunday night, killing nine residents and injuring dozens more, officials confirmed Monday morning. The blaze left a community shaken and families mourning as harrowing scenes of elderly residents calling for help unfolded amid thick smoke and flames.

According to Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, more than 30 residents were transported to nearby hospitals, including one person in critical condition. Five firefighters sustained mostly minor injuries and were later released.

“Crews were met with heavy fire coming through the main entrance and multiple people hanging out the windows, looking to be rescued,” Bacon said during a press briefing outside the charred three-story building.

Among the victims were some who died inside the facility and others who succumbed to their injuries after being evacuated. Officials have not yet released the identities of the deceased.

The fire broke out at Gabriel House, home to roughly 70 residents, many of whom needed physical assistance to evacuate. Despite the facility being just a block away from Saint Anne’s Hospital, the rapidly spreading fire made rescue efforts extremely difficult.

An emotional account came from a woman who spoke to her father on the phone as he lay trapped inside. “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,” she told WCVB. She was eventually able to guide firefighters to his location, leading to his rescue.

More than two dozen off-duty firefighters rushed to the scene after the building’s alarm system triggered the emergency call. “Every police officer in the city was here, too, and everybody was rescuing people,” Bacon added.

Mayor Paul Coogan commended the emergency response, calling it a “five-star effort” that helped save lives. “A lot of these people needed assistance just getting out of the building,” he said.

Gabriel House, operational since 1999, is regulated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence, which requires all assisted living facilities to maintain 24-hour staffing and emergency readiness.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey expressed her condolences in a statement, calling the event “the most horrific news imaginable.” She praised the first responders for their bravery and offered prayers for the families affected.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and fire services. As the community mourns the loss of nine of its most vulnerable citizens, many are demanding answers—and accountability.

“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,” Chief Bacon said. “I applaud the efforts of our crews, but my heart is with those who lost loved ones in this terrible event.”