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2mo ago

Officials Pinpoint Oxygen or Smoking as Possible Causes in Gabriel House Fire

Press events today are set to unveil initial findings alongside expedited emergency staffing plans

Fire crews at the scene of fire at Gabriel House, an assisted living center, in Fall River, Mass., on July 13, 2025.
FILE - Boards cover the windows of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, July 15, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi, file)
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A man walks past shelves of Coca-Cola bottles and cans at a shopping mall in Lagos, Nigeria November 5, 2019.

Overview

  • State Fire Marshal Jon Davine said investigators have narrowed the fire’s origin to either an oxygen concentrator malfunction or improper smoking materials but have not determined which.
  • Investigators seized multiple sprinkler heads for analysis after owners provided records showing the system passed inspection on July 8, though survivors reported that sprinklers failed to activate.
  • Survivor Steven Oldrid filed a lawsuit Monday accusing Gabriel Care Inc. of negligence in management, staffing and emergency procedures, alleging those failures caused his injuries.
  • Gov. Maura Healey ordered safety audits for all 273 state assisted-living homes and released $1.2 million to bolster Fall River’s emergency responder ranks.
  • The Bristol County district attorney will hold press briefings alongside Governor Healey today to present preliminary investigative findings and outline statewide assisted-living safety reviews.