Investigators believe the deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River started in a resident’s room from either a failed oxygen concentrator or smoking materials later found in the room.
“During this past week, investigators have retrieved and recovered more evidence, reviewed video footage, and spoken to witnesses,” Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III said at a press conference on Tuesday. “The conclusion remains the same: the fire was accidental.”
Quinn said the investigation remains ongoing.
Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Davine told reporters that the fire started on the second floor, and appears to have been an accident.
“We have the home oxygen use, the smoking material and the oxygen concentrator — so we may not be able to define between the two,” Davine said. “We’re going to continue to investigate but I don’t have a timeframe about when that will happen.”
Ten people died in the fire and more than 30 were injured. The resident of the room where the fire appears to have started was among the victims.
Fall River Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Bacon praised the dozens of firefighters who responded to the scene.
“They did a job no one should ever be asked to do,” Bacon said. “And I know they would do it again.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
