Latest news with #PaulCoogen
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Fire at Massachusetts assisted living facility leaves nine dead
Nine people were killed after a fire ripped through an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday night, with one person remaining in critical condition in hospital. More than 30 residents were taken to area hospitals and dozens were rescued by ladder as firefighters battled heavy smoke that filled the Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence on Oliver Street, local officials said. The fire broke out around 9.30pm, activating all firefighters in the city to respond, including 30 who were off duty. 'They showed up to the scene, obviously fire, smoke and victims screaming for rescue out windows, and it makes for a chaotic scene,' the Fall River fire chief, Jeffrey Bacon, said at a press conference on Monday morning. When crews arrived, Bacon said they found people hanging from windows seeking rescue as heavy smoke and flames poured from the front of the building. Firefighters would then enter the facility, rescuing occupants while battling the blaze. The fire chief said it was smoke rather than large flames that created the chaotic scene. Damage was contained to one wing of the approximately 70-resident facility, though smoke damage spread throughout the building. Fall River's mayor, Paul Coogen, confirmed that some victims' bodies remained inside the facility on Monday morning, with medical examiners now at the scene. Five firefighters were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries but have since been released. The origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
Fire at Massachusetts assisted living facility leaves nine dead
Nine people were killed after a fire ripped through an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday night, with one person remaining in critical condition in hospital. More than 30 residents were taken to area hospitals and dozens were rescued by ladder as firefighters battled heavy smoke that filled the Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence on Oliver Street, local officials said. The fire broke out around 9.30pm, activating all firefighters in the city to respond, including 30 who were off duty. 'They showed up to the scene, obviously fire, smoke and victims screaming for rescue out windows, and it makes for a chaotic scene,' the Fall River fire chief, Jeffrey Bacon, said at a press conference on Monday morning. When crews arrived, Bacon said they found people hanging from windows seeking rescue as heavy smoke and flames poured from the front of the building. Firefighters would then enter the facility, rescuing occupants while battling the blaze. The fire chief said it was smoke rather than large flames that created the chaotic scene. Damage was contained to one wing of the approximately 70-resident facility, though smoke damage spread throughout the building. Fall River's mayor, Paul Coogen, confirmed that some victims' bodies remained inside the facility on Monday morning, with medical examiners now at the scene. Five firefighters were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries but have since been released. The origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation.
