The Fall River fire was the state's deadliest since 1984. Here's an review of other fatal fires since then.
July 10, 2014 —
An intense fire gutted an apartment building in Lowell, killing seven people, including five members of one family. The family members were identified as Torn Sak, 37, his longtime partner, Ellen Vuong, 29, and three of their five children.
Two unrelated adults, Tina Christakos, 38, and Robert Downs, 72, were also killed. Officials said the fire was sparked by an electrical failure.
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October 4, 2004 —
A fire tore through a duplex in Dennis, killing a family of five, including a toddler and two older children. Investigators said there was no evidence of a smoke detector in the unit.
February 9, 2000 —
A fire in a Newton office building claimed the lives of five people: Lynne Brady, 53, Virginia Lewis, 76, her son Robert, 50, David Stulin, 52, and Gerald Kaplan, 60, who died of a heart attack after he was rescued.
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December 3, 1999 —
November 24, 1999 —
Five family members died in a fire at a single-family home in Lynn that had no smoke alarms. The victims were identified as Elma Sprague, 78; her son, Harold Sprague, 55; Dan Warner, 22, his brother, Robert Warner, 26; and Robert's girlfriend, Vikki Reed, 28.
December 24, 1994 —
Flames fueled by a fierce windstorm tore through a wooden house before dawn in North Attleborough, killing seven people — a mother, her husband, her four children and a teenage girl who was on a Christmas sleepover.
March 22, 1994 —
Five children died in a two-alarm fire in a Chelsea home on Essex Street. They were identified as Jonathan Figueroa, 11, Jesse Rodriguez, 10, Jose Abreu, 3, Ramon Abreu, 1, and Albita Abreu, 8 months.
May 27, 1990 —
A couple, their three young daughters, and a family friend were killed in a fire at a Roslindale apartment. They were identified as Myles O'Neill, 23, his wife Maureen Kearney O'Neill, 22, their children, Charlene, 3, Stacy, 2, Lea Ann, 10, and a family friend, Patrick McGovern, 21.
January 10, 1985 —
A fire in Brockton claimed the lives of five children: Sean Nelson, 10; Cajou Nelson, 8; John Nelson, 7; Uhsan Nelson, 3; and Fransel Lywhan Nelson, 2. The fire started in a room that had been converted from a garage and a portable electric heater was apparently pushed against combustible material that ignited, officials said.
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July 4, 1984 —
In the deadliest fire in Massachusetts since the Cocoanut Grove fire of 1942, 15 people perished in a blaze at a Beverly rooming house. Authorities said the fire was allegedly started by James Carver in a fit of jealous rage after he discovered his ex-girlfriend was dating another man. Carver was convicted on 15 counts of murder and has spent more than three decades in prison, but last year a judge granted Carver a new trial, citing changes in the way that experts analyze fire investigations and eyewitness testimony.
Nick Stoico can be reached at
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The Fall River fire was the state's deadliest since 1984. Here's an review of other fatal fires since then.
March 4, 2017 — July 10, 2014 — An intense fire gutted an apartment building in Lowell, killing seven people, including five members of one family. The family members were identified as Torn Sak, 37, his longtime partner, Ellen Vuong, 29, and three of their five children. Two unrelated adults, Tina Christakos, 38, and Robert Downs, 72, were also killed. Officials said the fire was sparked by an electrical failure. Advertisement October 4, 2004 — A fire tore through a duplex in Dennis, killing a family of five, including a toddler and two older children. Investigators said there was no evidence of a smoke detector in the unit. February 9, 2000 — A fire in a Newton office building claimed the lives of five people: Lynne Brady, 53, Virginia Lewis, 76, her son Robert, 50, David Stulin, 52, and Gerald Kaplan, 60, who died of a heart attack after he was rescued. Advertisement December 3, 1999 — November 24, 1999 — Five family members died in a fire at a single-family home in Lynn that had no smoke alarms. The victims were identified as Elma Sprague, 78; her son, Harold Sprague, 55; Dan Warner, 22, his brother, Robert Warner, 26; and Robert's girlfriend, Vikki Reed, 28. December 24, 1994 — Flames fueled by a fierce windstorm tore through a wooden house before dawn in North Attleborough, killing seven people — a mother, her husband, her four children and a teenage girl who was on a Christmas sleepover. March 22, 1994 — Five children died in a two-alarm fire in a Chelsea home on Essex Street. They were identified as Jonathan Figueroa, 11, Jesse Rodriguez, 10, Jose Abreu, 3, Ramon Abreu, 1, and Albita Abreu, 8 months. May 27, 1990 — A couple, their three young daughters, and a family friend were killed in a fire at a Roslindale apartment. They were identified as Myles O'Neill, 23, his wife Maureen Kearney O'Neill, 22, their children, Charlene, 3, Stacy, 2, Lea Ann, 10, and a family friend, Patrick McGovern, 21. January 10, 1985 — A fire in Brockton claimed the lives of five children: Sean Nelson, 10; Cajou Nelson, 8; John Nelson, 7; Uhsan Nelson, 3; and Fransel Lywhan Nelson, 2. The fire started in a room that had been converted from a garage and a portable electric heater was apparently pushed against combustible material that ignited, officials said. Advertisement July 4, 1984 — In the deadliest fire in Massachusetts since the Cocoanut Grove fire of 1942, 15 people perished in a blaze at a Beverly rooming house. Authorities said the fire was allegedly started by James Carver in a fit of jealous rage after he discovered his ex-girlfriend was dating another man. Carver was convicted on 15 counts of murder and has spent more than three decades in prison, but last year a judge granted Carver a new trial, citing changes in the way that experts analyze fire investigations and eyewitness testimony. Nick Stoico can be reached at
