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‘They’ll write books about it’: Fall River fire chief tearfully describes scene of deadly Gabriel House fire
“There’s no doubt in my mind that that fire was destined to kill 50-plus people,” Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said Wednesday.
An “eerily quiet” scene awaited Fall River Fire Engine 5 Sunday as the first crews pulled up to Gabriel House, coming face-to-face with a deadly five-alarm blaze.
With flames shooting out of the assisted living facility’s front door and more firetrucks following close behind, the scene soon erupted into chaos. Speaking to reporters days later, Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said his team still carries the emotions and trauma of that fire, which left nine Gabriel House residents dead and dozens more injured.
Fall River firefighters “described seeing faces in windows” as they arrived at the scene, the chief recalled tearily. “And having to decide who they need to rescue.”
Fall River Fire
Bacon said those firefighters are not yet ready to speak to the media about their experiences.
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“The emotions are a little too raw. The stories are a little too vivid,” he said, calling the department’s actions “nothing short of heroic.”
Bacon’s voice wavered as he explained how firefighters forged ahead through heavy black smoke to evacuate some residents who were non-ambulatory. He said one firefighter carried several residents to safety by slinging them over his shoulder and ferrying them down a flight of stairs and across the street one at a time. The assisted living facility was home to about 70 people.
“It’s beyond comprehension,” Bacon said, adding, “These actions are heroic, and they’re repeated over, and over, and over again by the 35 firefighters that showed up on-duty that night.”
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The blaze ultimately drew about 50 firefighters to the scene, including some who were off-duty at the time.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that that fire was destined to kill 50-plus people,” Bacon said, praising fire, police, EMS, and emergency crews. “Unfortunately, nine were not able to be saved. But that number should have been four to five times that.”
Eighth Gabriel House fire victim identified
Authorities have publicly identified eight of the nine victims, who ranged in age from 61 to 86. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that 77-year-old Joseph Wilansky was among the Gabriel House residents who died in the fire. The identity of a ninth victim, a 70-year-old woman, has not been released pending notification of her next-of-kin.
A 66-year-old woman also remains hospitalized Wednesday in critical condition, authorities said. While Bacon told reporters a second resident is now in critical condition, the DA’s office said it has not been able to confirm the patient’s status.
Six Fall River firefighters were also injured in the blaze, though Bacon reported the injuries were “nothing life-threatening.”
He also said the Timao Center, which had been operating as a shelter for displaced Gabriel House residents, has now closed as residents are placed in new living arrangements.
Fall River firefighters went ‘beyond their limits,’ chief says
Sunday’s fire started in a room on the second floor of the facility, which was originally built as a hotel, Bacon said.
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“I’m comfortable saying that it’s an accidental fire,” he added. “There’s nothing intentional about this fire.”
Asked about reports from current and former Gabriel House employees who told media outlets the facility did not routinely conduct fire drills, Bacon replied, “I don’t have any information on that right now.”
Gabriel House owner Dennis Etzkorn has not responded to Boston.com’s requests for comment, though he pledged his cooperation with the ongoing investigation in a previous statement to The Boston Globe.
The fire department’s manpower has also come under scrutiny, with fire union officials quickly pointing out eight of Fall River’s 10 fire companies were staffed below national standards. Coogan announced Wednesday the city will increase fire department staffing levels in response.
“Instead of having two trucks at the minimum standard by the fire safety commission, we’re going to go to six,” he said during a later press conference.
“Going forward,” Coogan added, “the goal obviously would be to get to 10 of 10, but right now, we think this is a very positive step in the right direction.”
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Financing was the main issue during this week’s staffing discussions, according to Coogan. He estimated the staffing increase will cost Fall River about $1.5 million, though he denied other city services would be sacrificed as a result.
Aiming to avoid future tragedy, Bacon urged local assisted living facilities and nursing homes to be “vigilant” about their fire plans, consider adding extra fire drills and emergency training, and “really focus on the patients and … who’s going to need the most help.”
He said the initial 35 Fall River firefighters who arrived at the scene Sunday “pushed themselves beyond their limits” to knock down the fire and rescue who they could.
“When all these stories come out, they’ll write books about it,” Bacon said. “They’ll make movies about it. It’s really that incredible.”
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