Nine people have died in a fire at a Massachusetts senior center where residents climbed out of windows calling for help, authorities said.
At least 30 people were injured.
Firefighters arrived at the Gabriel House senior living facility in Fall River around 9:50 p.m. Sunday to find heavy smoke and fire at the entrance to the building, with people trapped inside, according to a news release from the state Fire Marshal's Office.
About 70 people live in the house.
The ages of the dead ranged from 61 to 86, authorities said.
By Monday morning the fire was out and firefighters were able to enter and rescue many residents.
About 50 firefighters arrived at the scene, 30 of whom were off duty.
Many of those rescued were taken to local and regional hospitals in varying conditions. Five firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the statement.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy for the families affected and the entire Fall River community,” Chief Jeffrey Bacon said.
He told reporters: “Many people were leaning out of windows in the hope of being saved.”
Relatives who arrived said that the police tried to break the windows.
Leo Johnson, 45, of Fall River, told The Boston Globe that he rushed to find his 68-year-old mother, who lives on the top floor of Gabriel's home.
“I was a little scared because she wasn't outside,” he said. He eventually found her and noted that she was all wet because the sprinklers had gone off.
In a statement, the Fall River Police Department said “officers did not hesitate to enter the smoke-filled building, break down the doors and escort residents to safety.”
“Our officers physically carried about a dozen people with disabilities. Their courage and quick action certainly saved many lives.”
The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation, according to state and local authorities.
Fall River, home to about 94,000 people, is located about 20 miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
