Overview

• Ten residents aged 61 to 86 died and more than two dozen were injured in the July 13 fire at Gabriel House, marking the state’s deadliest blaze in 41 years.
• Police and firefighters released bodycam footage showing 11 officers and two sergeants using flashlights and explosive door kicks to evacuate immobile residents.
• Inspection records dating back to 2019 revealed no cited violations at Gabriel House despite past reports of pest infestations, compliance lapses and a broken elevator.
• Investigators have ruled out suspicious activity and are focusing on whether smoking near an oxygen tank or clogged sprinkler systems triggered the blaze.
• Governor Maura Healey’s Fire and Life Safety Initiative requires all 273 assisted living homes in Massachusetts to complete detailed fire safety surveys within 30 days and inform residents and families of protocols.