Assisted-living facility where fire killed 10 temporarily lost certification for mistreatment

by The Associated Press

A Massachusetts assisted-living facility where a fire killed 10 people earlier this month temporarily lost its certification nearly a decade ago due to resident mistreatment, according to state regulators.

The documents obtained by The Associated Press show the staff failed to treat residents with “consideration, respect, personal dignity and privacy.” Other specific details of what prompted the monthlong suspension were redacted in documents the state Executive Office of Aging & Independence provided Tuesday. The facility in Fall River was barred from accepting new residents until it took corrective action.

The report adds to a list of issues raised with the Gabriel House facility over the years. A resident filed a lawsuit recently alleging the facility was not properly managed, staffed or maintained and that “emergency response procedures were not put in place.” The son of another resident said an elevator had been out for as long as nine months at one point.

The state’s deadliest blaze in more than four decades has highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care for low-income or disabled residents. Gov. Maura Healey declined last week to weigh in on the efficacy of state and local inspections. Instead, Healey has touted that a state commission is currently working on recommendations to improve assisted-living facilities.

State records released Tuesday include about two dozen complaints about the facility during the last decade, including several related to “abuse, neglect or financial exploitation” but details are redacted. Other complaints involved a resident getting stuck for hours in an elevator that was then out of service for months, and staff members who threatened residents and withheld medication.

There also were complaints about a nurse withholding medication, “environmental safety” and a cook: “The cook is obsessive, controlling and abusive.”

The most detailed complaint is from 2015 and appears to have been written or dictated by a resident. It lists more than a dozen issues, including bed bugs, roaches over-medicated residents and fist fights in common areas.

“It is a place where you can’t feel safe due to other patients and corrupt staff,” the complaint states. “The staff treat the people there very cruel and show no respect for them or their needs.”

Dennis Etzkorn, the owner of Gabriel House, has said he will not speak to journalists and is focused on helping families of the victims and cooperating with the investigation into the fire.

Most recently, documents show that state officials were alarmed about the ongoing elevator issues as of spring 2025. A field supervisor with Massachusetts’s long-term care ombudsman made a plea in February to the state to investigate Gabriel House’s faulty elevator, saying that every time he made a call about the problem he was met with “excuses.”

“Please call this place and see if this is true … if so we need a remedy /plan asap,” an unnamed official wrote to the office’s assisted living certification specialist.

Etzkorn later wrote to the office detailing the timeline of the elevator problems that said work would begin in March after it was first alerted in September 2024.

Before the July 13 fire, the most recent compliance review found numerous repeat violations, many related to record keeping. After the facility submitted a corrective plan, the state renewed its certification in December 2023.

Investigators said last week that the fire started unintentionally by either someone smoking or an electrical issue with an oxygen machine. The blaze left some residents of the three-story building hanging out of windows and screaming for help. 

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Assisted-living facility where fire killed 10 temporarily lost certification for mistreatment

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9 dead in Fall River assisted living home fire. "Unfathomable tragedy," chief says. 

9 dead in Fall River assisted living home fire. "Unfathomable tragedy," chief says.

Story by Mike Toole

Nine people were killed and one was critically injured in an assisted living home fire in Fall River, Massachusetts, authorities said. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon called the fire at Gabriel House "an unfathomable tragedy."

Flames broke out just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday at the facility on Oliver Street. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames and smoke coming through the main entrance and several people hanging out of the windows, waiting to be rescued, according to Bacon.

About 30 residents were rushed to hospitals and five firefighters suffered minor injuries, Bacon said in an emotional news conference. The firefighters have since been released from the hospital. In addition to the nine residents who were killed, another was in critical condition Monday morning. Some of the residents were pronounced dead at the scene, while others died at the hospital.

"They had someone they were carrying with hands and feet. They were screaming, 'We need a medic!'" one witness said.

One of those killed was 86-year-old Eleanor Willet, her grandson told WBZ-TV. He declined to comment, but Willet's son, David Dixon, said he is still trying to wrap his head around what happened.

"Ya, I'm alright right now. But I don't know what it's going to be like later, like maybe when it all sinks in, I really don't know," David Dixon told WBZ-TV. 

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn identified the other victims as 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, 61-year-old Ronald Codega, 69-year-old Margaret Duddy, 78-year-old Robert King, 71-year-old Kim Mackin and 78-year-old Richard Rochon. The names of a 70-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man who died in the fire have not been released yet.

Resident Albert Almanza, who uses an oxygen tank, survived the fire, thanks to a police officer who got him out safely.

"I went to my room door, I opened it, all the smoke from the hall went right in my face and all I could do was stand there and choke," he said. "And I thought it was going to be the end of everything."

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey met with a few of the survivors Monday afternoon and heard their stories.

"They were in their bed or they had just had their medication and they're about to go to bed. They hear some noise and lights and shouting," Healey said. "A lot of them are immobile, you know. They're in wheelchairs or they have walkers. They can't easily move and they were disoriented."

Fall River Fire, Police, EMS saved "multiple lives"

"We had at least a dozen people rescued over ladders. The police department, fire department and EMS were able to enact dozens of rescues to save multiple lives," Bacon said.

"Were it not for the heroic work, brave work, of these men and women who showed last night, particularly our fire, police and EMS, we would have seen much greater loss of life," Healey said at a late morning news conference at the scene.

There's no word yet on how or where the fire started, but the district attorney said the cause does not appear to be suspicious at this time. About 50 firefighters were called in, including about 30 who were off-duty, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said. Bacon said "every police officer in the city was here too."

"The fire investigators from the Fall River Fire Department and the state fire marshal's office will be in the building along with code compliance and they're going to try to put the scene back together and figure out what exactly happened," the fire chief said.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan said there were sprinklers in the building. Bacon told reporters the fire damage was contained to one wing but there is smoke damage throughout the three-story home. The alarms could be heard in the background during the Monday morning news conference, but Bacon did not know if they were working at the time of the fire.

"Smoke kills more people than fire does, every day in America. I think the lesson that can be learned here is that listen to your smoke detectors and react because smoke is a very deadly force," he said.

Bacon said there were several oxygen tanks in the facility, but that they were "irrelevant" to the fire "at this time." He added that air conditioners in the windows made it difficult for firefighters during the rescues.

"An unfathomable tragedy for the families"

"This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community," Bacon said in a statement before the news conference Monday. "On behalf of the Fall River Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones who are grieving this morning."

The family of Brenda Andrade said that she was in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. They told WBZ-TV that she had received burns on 50 percent of her body and that they were anxiously awaiting the chance to see her.

Families who had loved ones at the home can get more information at the chapel at St. Anne's Hospital, which is across the street from the assisted living center. They can also call 508-674-5741. The fire chief said all medications in the facility were being removed. 

A temporary shelter has been set up for residents at the Timao Center on Bay Street, where at least 35 residents were being cared for. Mayor Coogan says that most of the residents have been transferred to nearby facilities as of Monday night.

The Fall River community rallied to support the survivors and families of victims at the shelter, carrying goods and providing emotional support for families. 

Gabriel House

The Gabriel House is a non-profit that opened in 1999 and has 100 single-bed units, according to its website and Mass.gov. The state fire marshal said about 70 people were living at the home before the fire.

The last official state inspection of Gabriel House was on October 15, 2024. That inspection certificate is scheduled to expire this coming October 15.

Some of the survivors said they liked living at the home, but many noted the elevator hadn't worked for eight months and that it was just very recently fixed.

"I was told that they had their inspection for the year July 8th, so if something happened it had to have been after July 8th," Mayor Coogan told reporters Monday afternoon.

"Nobody is programmed to deal with this"

Bacon said he will visit all of the fire stations in the city to make sure they have the support they need.

"Everyone thinks firefighters are heroes and they're just designed to be able to deal with anything, but that's not the case. The mental health aspect of this, for not just for the firefighters, the police officers, the EMTs and the families that were here. I'm a strong advocate for mental health support and I would say that for anybody that was at this scene last night, not just firefighters, police officers, EMS, to seek the help that you need to deal with the tragic situation like this. Nobody is programmed to deal with this," Bacon said.

"I just want to say to the families and friends of those who perished, I offer my condolences, deepest condolences and sympathy on behalf of the Commonwealth for this tragic loss. We lost nine folks last night in this terrible tragedy and our hearts and our sympathies are with their families," Healey said. "I pledge to the mayor and the people of Fall River that my administration will do everything we can to offer support and assistance at this time."

Union says staffing was inadequate

In a press conference on Monday afternoon, union officials said the Fall River fire department is understaffed.

"Had they been staffed properly up to national standards, there would have been eight more firefighters affecting rescues here last night," Edward Kelly, general president of the International Association of Firefighters, said. "Lives would have been saved if the Fall River fire department were adequately staffed."

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that each company have four firefighters. The union says that most Fall River companies only have three, but the President of the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs' Association explained that most departments in the state can't meet that ideal number.

"We did the best we could with what we had," Fall River Firefighters Union president Michael O'Regan said. "And what we had was not enough."    

"As far as staffing with the fire department. We staff to the number the chief gives us. I don't set the number. I don't know enough about fire department staffing. I can't figure out how they work those shifts. I don't know enough about it. He asked for a number and we gave it to him," Mayor Coogan said.

WBZ-TV has reached out to the Fall River fire chief for comment on firefighter staffing levels.

Where is Fall River, Massachusetts?

Fall River is in southeastern Massachusetts, about 50 miles south of Boston and 20 miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island. 

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9 dead in Fall River assisted living home fire. "Unfathomable tragedy," chief says. 

Assisted living facility resident left phone in the bed. Minutes later, the bed was on fire

WSB Cox articles

A device that’s used every day almost cost a Roswell resident their home.

Just before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, the Roswell Fire Department was called to Mansell Road in reference to a possible fire.

Five minutes later, firefighters reportedly arrived at the Magnolia Place of Roswell, an assisted living facility, when they said the fire was already put out.

What caused the fire? The fire department said it was a smartphone that was overheating with a lithium-ion battery.

Fire crews said the cell phone was left on the bed, and the resident allegedly moved the burning phone to the bathroom sink to extinguish the fire.

Fire crews said thanks to the resident’s quick response, it was minimum damage, and no injuries were reported.

The Roswell Fire Department is reminding residents to follow these safety practices when it comes to using electronic devices:

• Avoid placing smartphones or any electronic devices on flammable surfaces, including beds, sofas or other upholstered furniture.

• Ensure proper ventilation around electronic devices to dissipate heat effectively.

• Never leave electronic devices unattended while charging or during extended usage periods.

• Regularly inspect and maintain electronic devices, checking for any signs of overheating, such as excessive heat, unusual sounds, or malfunctioning.

• Familiarize yourself with manufacturer guidelines and warnings regarding device usage and charging.
  

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Assisted living facility resident left phone in the bed. Minutes later, the bed was on fire

Flames Rip Through Chester County Senior Living Community Displacing 150 Residents and Staff, Hospitalizing 27

Some people remain unaccounted more than a day after an intense fire destroyed a wing of a Chester County, Pennsylvania senior living community, a high level source tells NBC10.

The late Thursday blaze forced 150 residents and staff into the frigid night and sent 27 residents to the hospital — 17 of whom are still under the care of doctors, officials said.

Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) are expected to enter the smoldering rubble sometime Saturday, the first time since the fire began that they will search inside.

The five-alarm fire broke out in the personal care section of the Barclay Friends community on the 700 block of North Franklin Street in West Chester. Staff evacuated vulnerable residents on foot, in wheelchairs and even in beds, wrapped in blankets.

Residents were triaged on a neighborhood street, then transported to a number of different shelters on ambulances and school buses.

 

Seniors Flee Inferno at Chester Co. Senior Living Community

Authorities poured over residents lists to check that everyone is accounted for, but at a 3 p.m. news conference Friday they would not answer that question.

"Our first priority is to track down and determine that we can account for everyone," ATF Special-Agent-in-Charge Don Robinson said.

Still, a high level source involved in the investigation told NBC10 that some people are missing, but cautioned that it's unclear if they left shelters with family or friends.

It was around 10:45 p.m. Thursday when smoke and flames first appeared in the personal care area of the facility. Employees rushed into residents' rooms and began ushering them to safety.
 

People at the scene described a frightening rescue from the inferno with some neighbors rushing over to help.

"I'm just envisioning the elderly people burning in their beds because it was so massive... before any rescue came," neighbor Scott Baker said.

With tears in her eyes, staffer Nellie Mingey said she was worried about the residents that she had come to know over three years working at Barclay Friends.

"It's sad," Mingey said. "This is their home. A lot of them don't have anywhere to go."

Parts of the community continued to burn Friday afternoon preventing investigators from searching the complex or determining how the fire started, officials said.

The fire burned so intensely that one firefighter reported feeling his helmet begin to melt, officials said.

Fire Sweeps Through Pa Senior Living Home

Seniors were evacuated into 40-degree weather and some were sent to local hospitals when a 5-alarm fire erupted at a senior living home in West Chester, Pa. Thursday. NBC10 News' Katy Zachry and Dray Clark report.

Unhurt residents were reunited with friends and family at nearby shelters, including one at West Chester University. The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania had moved everyone from the West Chester shelter to specialized health care facilities and closed the shelter by late morning.

"They're cold, they're scared, they're anxious, they wanted to get out of here, so we're glad to have gotten them out," registered nurse Noreen Cibley said.

Neighbors rushed to the scene as well to help comfort evacuees. One woman who lives within a mile of the scene said she called a first responder friend as soon as she saw the flames, then rushed over with donations from Wawa of coffee and water for the overwhelmed evacuees.

"Everyone seems OK, but they are tired," the neighbor said. "They look really, really exhausted. They've had a long night."

A look at the smoldering senior-living community Friday morning.
Photo credit: SkyForce10  

Barclay Friends, a Kendal Affiliate, is a senior living community that provides professional nursing staff 24 hours a day, meals and other services, according to its website. 

The nursing home section of Barclay Friends was put on a "provisional license" last November by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) because of the citations, and fined $9,750 in April, the state said.

Firefighters warned people in the area to expect traffic troubles in the area of Franklin Street and Goshen Road as roads in the area remained closed Friday as more than two dozen ATF agents led the investigation into the blaze.

A team of national ATF investigators plan to enter the burned out complex on Saturday with the hope of collecting evidence.

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Flames Rip Through Chester County Senior Living Community Displacing 150 Residents and Staff, Hospitalizing 27