Many residents were transported to local and regional hospitals in ‘varying conditions,’ officials said.
An overnight fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River has claimed multiple lives, local officials announced Monday morning.
Nine people have died and at least 30 people were injured, the Associated Press reported.
“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,” said Fall River fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon.
Several occupants were declared dead at the scene, and “many more” were transported to local and regional hospitals in varying conditions, according to a release from the state fire marshal’s office.
Five firefighters were transported for injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the release.
The large fire broke out late Sunday night, according to preliminary information from fire crews.
Crews responded to the Gabriel House, an assisted living facility on Oliver Street, the Fall River firefighters union said around 10 p.m. There was “heavy fire,” crews said, and multiple rescues were in progress.
The union shared updates on Facebook from Box 52, a Medford-based fire fighting enthusiast club, that reported that the fire was under control by 10:40 p.m.
The post also said that an “MCI has been declared,” likely referring to a mass casualty incident. An MCI refers to a sudden surge of patients that can overwhelm local healthcare providers.
“Units will be tied up most of the night,” the post said.
A live video shared on Facebook from the scene shows dozens of ambulances waiting for patients. Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan was also at the scene, the video showed.
The fire has launched a huge response from firefighters and other first responders. Fire departments from nearby towns including Somerset, Swansea, and Portsmouth, Rhode Island responded to Fall River to assist the local department, the departments said.
The assisted living facility, a nonprofit, has 100 units and opened in 1999, according to the state. An email sent to the facility was not returned Sunday evening.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with additional information. Reporting from the Associated Press was also used for this article.