Investigations into a deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living home in Fall River Massachusetts found that the fire started in a room where an oxygen concentrator and smoking materials were present.
The incident killed ten residents and injured more than 30 others in July 2025, the state’s worst fire for more than 40 years.
The fire suppression system at Gabriel House also failed to activate, with the discovery that sprinkler heads were recalled over 20 years ago.
As the one-year anniversary of the tragedy approaches, Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon has announced a push to change fire safety codes for sprinklers nationwide to ensure inspectors are checking for recalled sprinklers.
Full report: WPRI — Fall River firefighters push to change fire safety codes after Gabriel House tragedy
