FALL RIVER (AP) – A 10th person has died after a fire that tore through an assisted-living facility on July 13.
Brenda Cropper, 66, died at a hospital on July 19, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III confirmed on July 20. She had been in critical condition, he said. Because of a miscommunication, her death for a time had been announced prematurely.
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The fire, which erupted July 13, left some residents hanging out windows of the three-story facility screaming for help.
The cause remains under investigation, but the district attorney’s office says it does not appear suspicious. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon says the blaze started in a room on the second floor.
At least 30 people were hurt as thick smoke and flames trapped residents inside. Records and accounts from staff raise concerns about conditions at Gabriel House before the blaze.
On July, the city released six years’ worth of fire inspection reports that showed the building was checked annually and that everything was in working order, WPRI-TV CBS 12 reported.
The inspection reports analyzed the building’s fire alarms, sprinklers, fire drill documentation, exit signs, fire extinguishers, cleared egresses and emergency lighting. The last inspection occurred on Aug. 9, 2024, and the facility was due for a new check in August.
According to Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, the blaze started in a room on the second floor on the east side of the building, but details about the exact origin and cause are under investigation. However, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has maintained that the cause “does not appear to be suspicious.”
The fire trapped residents inside, including some who were hanging out of windows screaming for help. At least 30 people were hurt and nine people initially were reported dead, all of whom were over the age of 60.
Those who died have been identified as Joseph Wilansky, 77; Rui Albernaz, 64; Ronald Codega, 61; Margaret Duddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim Mackin, 71; Richard Rochon, 78; and Eleanor Willett, 86.
About 50 firefighters responded to the scene, including 30 who were off duty. Police helped break down doors and carried about a dozen residents to safety. Five injured firefighters were released from the hospital on July 14.
Union officials say the city didn’t staff enough firefighters to rescue all the residents trapped in the blaze – a contention that city officials have since sought to resolve by promising to add more firefighters to each shift, initially via overtime and eventually by hiring new staff.
Meanwhile, the facility’s owner had a previous citation for failing to report numerous health and safety incidents. The tragedy has also called attention to the minimal regulations that govern assisted-living facilities.
