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Recalled sprinkler heads were found at four Fall River sites following Gabriel House fire. Officials say there could be more.
Survivors of July’s Gabriel House fire have alleged the assisted living facility’s sprinklers weren’t working the night of the deadly blaze, prompting additional scrutiny.
Recalled fire sprinklers may still exist at properties in Fall River and beyond, the city’s fire department warned Monday, just months after the deadly Gabriel House assisted living facility fire.
The Fall River Fire Department said four residential properties have recently replaced their sprinkler heads after routine inspections found some that had been recalled 24 years ago. The department warned in a news release that more of the recalled sprinklers could still be found in Fall River and other parts of Massachusetts.
“Our mission is to protect the lives and safety of our residents,” Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said in a statement. “We are pleased that the affected property owners acted immediately and achieved full compliance. But this issue is not yet behind us. We need the continued diligence of sprinkler contractors and building owners to help identify and correct similar problems wherever they may exist.”
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Fire inspectors found the recalled sprinkler heads in four properties earlier this month: a group home, two boarding houses, and one shelter. According to the Fall River Fire Department, each property owner said they weren’t aware of the recall but acted quickly to replace the sprinkler heads once notified.
Gabriel House fire:
The sprinkler heads in question were manufactured by Central Sprinkler Company between the mid-1970s and 2001, the same year the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary nationwide recall on the component. The recall specifically noted potential issues with the rubber O-ring seals that could cause sprinkler heads not to activate in a fire.
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Ten people were killed and dozens more injured July 13 when a five-alarm blaze broke out at Gabriel House in Fall River. Several of the assisted living facility’s former residents have since filed lawsuits, alleging the building’s sprinkler system wasn’t working properly on the night of the fire. At least one of those lawsuits alleges the Gabriel House’s fire suppression system contractor “did not consider the manufacturer’s recall of certain sprinkler components.”
Meanwhile, a Gabriel House spokesperson has said the facility’s sprinkler system was tested as recently as five days before the fire and found to be in working order.
On Monday, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine invoked the Gabriel House fire as he forwarded the Fall River Fire Department’s latest findings — as well as detailed, proactive sprinkler inspection guidance — to every fire chief in Massachusetts.
“I have been deeply moved by the concern and compassion that the state’s fire chiefs have shown for the most vulnerable residents in their communities and impressed by your determination to protect them from similar tragedies,” Davine wrote, according to a copy of the email provided by the state’s Department of Fire Services.
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He explained that while the responsibility for assessing sprinkler systems and sprinkler heads for recalls or deficiencies “falls squarely” on the licensed sprinkler contractor and property owner, fire chiefs may opt to request testing and maintenance reports as an added step.
“Fire departments are encouraged to remind licensed sprinkler contractors operating in their jurisdictions of these recalls when interacting with them and to keep the recalls in mind when reviewing inspection, testing, and maintenance reports during inspections,” Davine added. “Incorporating recall awareness into local enforcement helps provide an additional safeguard towards proper sprinkler maintenance and operation.”
In a letter to Davine Monday, Bacon noted the Central sprinkler heads were installed nationwide in facilities including residences, hospitals, day cares, schools, dorms, nursing homes, supermarkets, parking garages, warehouses, and office buildings.
“We must continue to rely on the diligence of sprinkler contractors, property owners, and fire inspectors to identify recalled heads before they place lives at risk,” he urged. “Given the scope of the original recall and the range of occupancies potentially affected, this is not simply a local matter. It is likely that similar hazards exist elsewhere in the Commonwealth.”
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