Overview
- Fire Systems Inc. says an inspector warned in September 2024 that some sprinkler heads at Gabriel House were under manufacturer recall and emailed that they should be replaced.
- Dennis Etzkorn, the facility’s owner, filed a counterclaim asserting the inspection firm’s long‑running failures were a direct cause of the 10 deaths.
- The owner’s filing says FSI certified no sprinkler deficiencies during inspections in February, April, and on July 8, 2025, five days before the fire.
- FSI states it only performed periodic inspections under its agreement, did not install or maintain the system, and is not responsible for identifying manufacturer recalls.
- City reviews after the fire found recalled sprinkler heads in four other Fall River buildings, and at least eight civil lawsuits tied to the blaze are now before Bristol Superior Court.