Nine killed and dozens hurt in fire at Massachusetts assisted-living home
At least nine people have died and more than 30 others injured after a deadly fire swept through an assisted living facility in Massachusetts, officials say.
Authorities responded to the fire at Gabriel House, in the town of Fall River, at approximately 21:50 local time on Sunday (02:50 GMT on Monday). On arrival, they discovered residents trapped in the blazing building.
Calling the fire "an unfathomable tragedy", Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said it "was very quick, it was just a very smokey fire".
Some of the nine victims died at the scene, while others later died in hospital. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
APThe town of Fall River is about 50 miles (80km) south of Boston and 20 miles from Providence, Rhode Island.
Fall River mayor Paul Coogan said that the building was equipped with sprinklers and that the fire had been contained to one wing of the building, but that smoke had spread throughout the three-storey structure.
"Smoke kills more people than fire does, every day in America," he said. "I think the lesson that can be learned here is that you listen to your smoke detectors and react because smoke is a very deadly force."
Approximately 70 people were living in the building when the fire broke out.
The fire chief described a chaotic scene on Sunday night, with residents begging for help and "hanging out of windows looking to be rescued".
He said firefighters and police pulled dozens of people to safety, through small windows or by breaking down doors . Some residents who use wheelchairs were carried out the building.
"We had at least a dozen people rescued over ladders," Mr Bacon said.
As of Monday morning, at least one of the injured is in critical condition, he said.
Five firefighters who were transported to hospital with minor injuries have already been released.
"Were it not for the heroic work, brave work, these men and women showed last night, particularly our fire, police and EMS, we would have seen much greater loss of life," Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey told reporters on Monday morning.