Latest news with #Wark
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
Nine dead, 30 injured in fire at assisted living facility near Boston
A fire that broke out at an assisted living facility for the elderly near Boston last night has killed at least nine people and injured 30 others, authorities have said. About 70 people lived at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the fire broke out about 9.30pm local time (2.30am Irish time) Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Security, said. Mr Wark said that about 50 firefighters responded to the incident in Fall River, about 90km south of Boston. The city opened a temporary shelter for surviving residents. Firefighters rescued numerous occupants of the facility, which is designed for older people to live independently with staff assistance, he said. Several residents were declared dead at the scene, while many others were transported to hospitals, and one person was in critical condition. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey called the fire a tragedy and said the cause was being investigated. "My heart goes out to those who are waking up to the most horrific news imaginable about their loved ones this morning," she said in a statement. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon told the media that some people were hanging from windows when firefighters arrived, the Boston Globe reported. Gabriel House opened in 1999 and has 100 units, according to state data. Dennis Etzkorn has been the sole director, president and treasurer of Gabriel Care, the corporation that runs the facility, since its founding. Efforts to reach Mr Etzkorn for comment were unsuccessful. In 2015, he agreed to pay $950,000 to the state to settle and dismiss charges of fraud brought by the Massachusetts attorney general's office over an alleged scheme of offering kickbacks of $150 for referrals of customers to Gabriel Care who use the state's health insurance company, MassHealth, court records show.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Fire at Boston-area senior living facility kills at least nine
(Reuters) -A fire that broke out at an assisted living facility for the elderly near Boston on Sunday night killed at least nine people and injured 30 others, authorities said. About 70 people lived at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the fire broke out about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday (0130 GMT Monday), Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Security, said on Monday. Wark said that about 50 firefighters responded to the incident in Fall River, about 60 miles south of Boston. The city opened a temporary shelter for surviving residents. Firefighters rescued numerous occupants of the facility, which is designed for older people to live independently with staff assistance, he said. Several residents were declared dead at the scene, while many others were transported to hospitals, and one person was in critical condition. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey called the fire a tragedy and said the cause was being investigated. "My heart goes out to those who are waking up to the most horrific news imaginable about their loved ones this morning," she said in a statement. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon told the media that some people were hanging from windows when firefighters arrived, the Boston Globe reported. Gabriel House opened in 1999 and has 100 units, according to state data. Dennis Etzkorn has been the sole director, president and treasurer of Gabriel Care, the corporation that runs the facility, since its founding. Efforts to reach Etzkorn for comment were unsuccessful. In 2015, he agreed to pay $950,000 to the state to settle and dismiss charges of fraud brought by the Massachusetts attorney general's office over an alleged scheme of offering kickbacks of $150 for referrals of customers to Gabriel Care who use the state's health insurance company, MassHealth, court records show.
Dubai Eye
5 days ago
- Dubai Eye
Fire at Boston-area senior living facility kills at least nine
At least nine people died and more than 30 others were injured when a fire broke out at a Boston-area assisted-living center on Sunday night, authorities said. About 70 people lived at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the fire broke out about 9:30 pm on Sunday (0130 GMT Monday), Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Security, said on Monday. Wark said that about 50 firefighters responded to the incident in Fall River, about 60 miles south of Boston. The city opened up a temporary shelter for surviving residents. Firefighters rescued numerous occupants of the facility, which is designed for older people to live independently with staff assistance, he said. Several residents were declared dead at the scene, while many others were transported to hospitals, and one person was in critical condition. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon told the media on Monday that some people were hanging from windows when firefighters arrived, the Boston Globe reported. 'This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,' Bacon said, telling reporters that the fire was under investigation. Five firefighters sustained injuries that were not life-threatening, Wark said.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Fire at Boston-area senior living facility kills at least nine
About 70 people lived at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River. PHOTO: BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT Listen to article At least nine people died and more than 30 others were injured when a fire broke out at a Boston-area assisted-living center on Sunday night, authorities said. About 70 people lived at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the fire started around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday (0130 GMT Monday), according to Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Wark said approximately 50 firefighters responded to the incident in Fall River, located about 60 miles south of Boston. The city opened a temporary shelter for surviving residents. Heavy fire in the attic through, all firefighters have been ordered to out of the building . — Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) July 13, 2025 Firefighters rescued numerous occupants of the facility, which is designed for older individuals to live independently with staff assistance. Several residents were declared dead at the scene, while many others were transported to hospitals. One person was reported to be in critical condition. A busy 24 hours for our firefighters, many of them working at the 3 alarm fire on Corwin st. in the day and the 4 alarm fire that evening on Poplar st. A great job by all our firefighters and Fire Alarm Operators . — Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) July 13, 2025 Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon told the media on Monday that some individuals were hanging from windows when firefighters arrived, according to the Boston Globe. 'This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,' Bacon said, adding that the fire was under investigation. Five firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Wark said.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Cause of Westfield fatal fire determined
WESTFIELD — A fatal apartment fire on Franklin Street last week was likely caused by smoking. Investigators believe, based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence, the fire was accidental and most likely started with smoking materials on a living room couch, said Jake Wark, spokesperson for the state Department of Fire Services. Just after 10:30 p.m. June 12, the Westfield Fire and Police departments responded to 911 calls from 36 Franklin St. The arriving engine company observed fire showing from a first-floor apartment, with witnesses reporting one person trapped inside. Firefighters battled heavy smoke and flames, and later located the resident, a woman with limited mobility, dead inside the building. Smoking materials were the leading cause of fire deaths in Massachusetts last year and almost every year for decades, Wark said in an emailed response to questions. 'There's no truly safe way to smoke, but it's especially dangerous to smoke when you're drowsy or impaired,' Wark said. 'If you or someone you love must smoke, please use a heavy ashtray on a sturdy surface. Fill it with water or sand, and be sure to put it out, all the way, every time.' Supreme Judicial Court upholds 2018 murder conviction in Latin King case Trustees reopen William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington for tours Markey wants answers from Verizon over lead in old phone lines Read the original article on MassLive.
