Gov. Maura Healey was in Fall River more than a week after the devastating fire at Gabriel House, an assisted living facility, which claimed the lives of 10 individuals. Her visit included the announcement of $1.2 million in state funding to help the city hire additional emergency personnel.
The funding comes through the state’s Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program, which provides $5.7 million in support for police and fire staffing across Massachusetts.
Nine other eligible communities will also receive support through the program.
During her remarks, Gov. Healey emphasized that the state was on the ground in Fall River to listen and respond to the community’s needs in the wake of the tragedy.
“We’re also here to discuss what we’re doing as a state to ensure that tragedies like this don’t happen again,” said Gov. Healey. “No family, no resident, no community should ever have to suffer or live with fear that something like this could happen to them or to their loved one.”
In response to the fire, the state launched several initiatives aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness in all 273 assisted living facilities across Massachusetts.
Each facility is now required to submit documentation demonstrating compliance with fire safety protocols, including sprinkler systems, fire-rated doors and walls, evacuation procedures, and emergency preparedness plans. In addition, Healey said, facilities must issue a letter to all residents and their family members within five business days outlining fire safety protocols, evacuation procedures, and key contact information for questions or concerns.
Aging & Independence Secretary Robin Lipson added that her office will review all submitted reports to determine if additional oversight is needed. If it is, she said, her department will go out and do that.
Locally, Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said the fire department has already committed to staffing all engine companies with four firefighters.
“That funding is going to help us provide that in the short term through overtime and to start coming up with a financial model to hire sufficient firefighters…to staff the department properly,” he said.
The fire at Gabriel House broke out overnight on July 13. First responders arrived to find heavy smoke and flames at the front of the building, with residents trapped inside. The blaze escalated to a five-alarm fire, bringing about 50 firefighters to the scene, including about 30 off-duty personnel.
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