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A survivor of a devastating fire at an assisted living facility in Massachusetts has alleged that staff members abandoned their posts instead of helping elderly residents escape. The inferno, which occurred on Sunday at Gabriel House in Fall River, tragically claimed the lives of nine individuals while injuring numerous others.
Lorraine Ferrara, a 70-year-old resident, expressed her shock at witnessing staff fleeing the scene as chaos unfolded. Ferrara recounted her desperate pleas for help while hanging from a window, but claimed that staff chose to disregard residents’ safety and continued to run away.
“They left us alone and ran,” Ferrara said. “I was hanging out the window — ‘Help! Help!’ — and they just kept running.”
Another resident, Robert Cabral, corroborated Ferrara’s account, stating that no staff members knocked on doors to alert seniors as smoke filled the rooms. “They didn’t knock on one door,” Cabral stated firmly. “They just ran.”
In the wake of this incident, Fox News Digital contacted Gabriel Care, the company that operates the facility, seeking a statement regarding the staff’s actions. However, no immediate response was received.
The victims ranged in age from 61 to 86, highlighting the vulnerability of those residing at the facility, which opened in 1999 and housed around 70 residents at the time.
As investigations into the fire continue, allegations have emerged regarding a lack of fire drills, raising serious safety concerns about the preparedness of the facility. The firefighters’ union has also pointed to inadequate staffing levels that impeded an effective response during the emergency.
Paul Lanzikos, a former Secretary of Elder Affairs in Massachusetts and co-founder of the advocacy group Dignity Alliance, expressed deep concern regarding the absence of fire drills and the insufficient number of staff available for a population requiring high levels of care. He also pointed out unsafe conditions, including a malfunctioning elevator and air conditioning units placed precariously in windows.
“It’s a terrible tragedy that should have never happened,” Lanzikos said, lamenting the systemic issues that could have contributed to this catastrophe.
Approximately 50 firefighters responded to the scene, including 30 who were off duty, illustrating the extent of the crisis. Local police assisted by forcibly opening doors, enabling them to carry about a dozen residents to safety. Following the incident, five firefighters received treatment at the hospital but were released later that same day.
Edward Kelly, president of the national firefighters union, pointed out that national staffing recommendations, if followed, would have allowed for eight additional firefighters on the scene, potentially improving the response time.
Capt. Frank O’Reagan recounted his arrival at the scene, noting the unavailability of breathing equipment. He bravely ventured door-to-door on the third floor without an air tank until smoke compromised his efforts.
His brother, firefighter Michael O’Reagan, expressed disbelief that a significant portion of the building remained unexplored even 40 minutes after firefighters arrived. “We did the best we could with what we had, and what we had was not enough,” he stated, highlighting the challenges faced during the rescue operation.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though officials have indicated that it does not appear to be suspicious. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon addressed the enormity of the situation by stating that staffing challenges are not unique to Fall River, as many municipalities across Massachusetts encounter similar issues.
“The crews were faced with an incredibly difficult situation. A fire is challenging, and a rescue is equally demanding,” Bacon stated. “When you combine the two at the level this call required, it became almost an impossible situation.”
This report draws from information provided by the Associated Press.
