Overview

• State and county investigators classified the July 13 fire at Gabriel House as accidental and non-suspicious
• Eight of the nine victims have been publicly identified, two injured residents remain in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital, and the temporary Timao Center shelter has closed
• The Assisted Living Residences Commission is drafting legislative proposals to strengthen inspection, staffing and safety standards for facilities serving Medicaid-dependent seniors
• Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan has publicly criticized owner Dennis Etzkorn for halting cooperation with city inquiries into Gabriel House’s safety record
• Records show Gabriel House went nearly two years without a state inspection and faced multiple violations in October 2023, highlighting long-standing regulatory gaps