Panic, smoke, and desperate cries for help—those were the scenes at Gabriel House in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Flames ripped through the assisted living facility Sunday night, killing nine residents.
“I thought I was going to meet my maker,” said 91-year-old Loraine Ferrara, who was rescued through her bathroom window.
Smoke was so thick, she couldn’t find the exit. Others leaned out of windows, begging to be saved.
Nearly 70 residents lived in the building. Many were elderly, immobile, or reliant on oxygen.
What Happened?
“Everyone was overwhelmed,” said firefighter Michael O’Regan.
Dozens of off-duty responders rushed in, some without gear, smashing through windows to pull people out.
Officials say the fire doesn’t appear suspicious, but questions are mounting.
The firefighters’ union blames chronic understaffing.
“Lives could’ve been saved,” said union president Edward Kelly, adding that eight more firefighters could’ve made a critical difference.
Owner Dennis Etzkorn, who previously faced legal controversies, says he’s cooperating with the investigation.
As smoke clears, one thing is certain: Gabriel House was a home. And for nine residents, it was their last.
The community now wrestles with grief—and a burning question: Could this tragedy have been prevented?
