The July fire that killed 10 people at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River could have claimed more lives if not for the “decisive actions by command and crews,” according to a new report from fire officials.
The Fall River Fire Department released the 27-page after-action report (AAR) on Monday. The report says that 33 firefighters were on the scene within 15 minutes. But national standards call for 42 firefighters within 10 minutes.
Calling the fire “one of the most complex and challenging incidents in Fall River Fire Department history,” the authors noted that “responding personnel faced rapidly advancing fire conditions, extreme life safety hazards, and a majority of residents with mobility and/or cognitive limitations.”
The report says the building posed “unique challenges,” like windows sealed by air conditioning units and plywood, and the fact that the building’s only elevator was “involved in the fire.”
The authors of the report make a series of recommendations, including additional training and equipment for responders. It also recommends that Rhode Island extend the strict fire safety standards used in nursing homes to other “high-risk” facilities across the state.
Weeks after the deadly incident, investigators said they believed the lethal fire started in a resident’s room, from either a failed oxygen concentrator or smoking materials later found in the room. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said at a press conference at the time that “the conclusion remains the same: the fire was accidental.”
The owner of the assisted living facility is currently facing several lawsuits by survivors and estates of deceased victims, claiming negligence. Investigators are still reviewing whether the property complied with fire codes, the report says.
Ocean State Media’s Paul C. Kelly Campos contributed to this story.
