The Fall River fire chief shared emotional accounts of firefighters' heroic efforts during the Gabriel House fire on Wednesday, highlighting their life-saving actions. Nine people died in the fire, but Chief Jeffrey Bacon said many more would have perished if not for the selfless work of his firefighters.
Bacon said the 35 firefighters faced incredible moments as they climbed down ladders carrying individuals who could not walk. He said his department never stopped saving lives during the night of the fire.
Sign up for our Newsletters"My driver singlehandedly lifts up each victim," Bacon said, pausing emotionally. "Puts him on his shoulder, walks down a flight of stairs, screams for a medic, and every time somebody screamed for a medic, Fall River EMS was there to help provide life-saving care. Every time a victim came, Fall River police were there to deliver them to EMS to provide lifesaving care. This might sound remarkable to you, but the driver of that ladder repeated that action six times."
Officials publicly identified an eighth victim on Wednesday as Joseph Wilansky, 77. The name of the ninth victim, a 70-year-old woman, has not been released.
A memorial with flowers and candles continues to grow at the Gabriel House, where a fire late Sunday claimed the lives of nine people. Pressure is also mounting to answer what went wrong.
Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan joined the community Tuesday night for a vigil and said he is frustrated with Dennis Etzkorn, the facility's owner.
Coogan said the two spoke on the phone early Tuesday, but when he called back again Etzkorn stopped answering his calls.
Etzkorn was seen driving off in a pickup truck just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, avoiding reporters after spending the entire day at Gabriel House.
How you can donate:
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fall River
- Firefighters' Wives Association Inc.
"These are his residents, and he might as well push them on the sidewalk and say, 'Have a nice day,' if he's not going to follow up. He has a financial obligation to these people, and we're going to see to the best of our ability that he does what he's supposed to do for them because these people were thrown into the abyss," Coogan said.
Coogan said as of Wednesday night, overtime will be used to get more firefighters on trucks. He says every shift, six of Fall River's 10 trucks will meet national standards, with a plan to hire more firefighters down the road.
Bacon said all residents have been placed in housing, and two people remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Fall River Fire Captain Michael O'Reagan spoke Tuesday night at the city council meeting. He called the fire a "nightmare" situation for all public safety officials.
He was emotional as he thanked first responders and ordinary citizens who helped save lives.
"We had operations ... we had guys by themselves, taking people down ladders alone ... something we don't do," he said.
O'Reagan said his crews were still rescuing and recovering people after 40 minutes on Sunday.
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office identified seven of the deceased as Rui Albernaz, 64; Ronald Codega, 61; Margaret Duddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim Mackin, 71; Richard Rochon, 78; and Eleanor Willett, 86; and Joseph Wilansky, 77. The office said a 70-year-old woman was still pending notification of family.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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