Massachusetts Assisted Living Facility Fire 'clearly Accidental'; Medical Oxygen Fueled Blaze That Killed 10

An investigation into nan root of the fatal occurrence astatine a Massachusetts assisted surviving installation past week classified nan origin arsenic "undetermined," though officials judge it was an accidental ignition.

The July 13 occurrence began successful a resident's room connected nan near broadside of nan 2nd level astatine nan Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence successful Fall River, State Fire Marshal John Gavin told reporters Tuesday. Gavin noted that nan resident was among nan 10 group who were killed successful nan fire, but did not place whose room it was.

There was nary motion of an intentionally group fire, officials said. Gavin noted location was nary motion of an electrical fire, appliance fire, aliases candles aliases incense wrong nan room.

Investigators are narrowing successful connected 2 imaginable causes of nan fire, according to Gavin.

"One was an electrical aliases mechanical nonaccomplishment involving nan oxygen concentrator," Gavin said, referring to a aesculapian instrumentality successful nan room. "The different was improper usage aliases disposal of smoking materials."

A diligent is loaded onto an ambulance aft a occurrence astatine nan Gabriel House. Colin Furze / Fall River Herald / USA Today Network

Without nan expertise to question and reply nan room's resident, nan authorities has declared nan origin of nan occurrence arsenic undetermined. But Gavin noted that nan 2 imaginable causes are "clearly accidental."

Gavin went connected to opportunity that it's evident that nan beingness of aesculapian oxygen played a "significant role" successful nan blaze's power, sloppy of nan origin of nan fire.

"Oxygen is simply a basal constituent of immoderate fire," Gavin said. "And it was coming successful nan area of root and different locations astatine Gabriel House. In an oxygen-rich environment, nan occurrence will ignite much readily and dispersed much quickly and pain astatine higher temperatures."

Officials antecedently said nan occurrence collapsed retired connected July 13 astatine 9:30 p.m., killing 9 people. One different person, Brenda Cropper, was hospitalized successful captious condition.

Cropper, 66, died connected Friday arsenic a consequence of her injuries, according to nan Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

George K. Regan Jr., a spokesperson for Gabriel House, said successful a connection that location "no words to adequately convey nan depths of our condolences and shock."

"We are eternally grateful to nan Fall River Fire Department and Fall River Police Department for their heroic consequence to nan fire, and we besides convey nan ambulance companies and aesculapian unit who provided exemplary and compassionate attraction to our victims," Regan Jr. said.

An interrogator takes measurements adjacent an entranceway to nan Gabriel House.Steven Senne / AP

The information of nan facility's sprinkler strategy was besides a mobility successful nan aftermath of nan fire. Gabriel House's occurrence suppression strategy was past tested connected July 8 and wished to beryllium successful moving order, Regan Jr. said successful nan statement.

He added that he understands nan value successful determining what happened nan nighttime of nan occurrence and that Gabriel House was moving pinch authorities to find nan answers.

"Our community, our residents, and astir of all, nan families who person suffered these unimaginable losses, merit thing less," Regan Jr. said.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday that she would group speech $5.7 cardinal successful authorities backing for constabulary and occurrence services successful 10 eligible communities. Fall River, wherever nan occurrence occurred, would besides person $1.2 cardinal for nan hiring of further emergency consequence personnel.

The state's caput of elder affairs will besides beryllium tasked pinch identifying immoderate further regulations that could thief protect assisted surviving residents.

"I cognize each of america present are of nan heavy position that nary family, nary resident, nary community, should ever person to suffer aliases unrecorded pinch fearfulness that thing for illustration this could hap to them aliases to their loved one," Healey said.