Latest news with #assistedliving
Fox News
2 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Two potential causes of fatal assisted-living facility fire revealed; first responder bodycam rescues go viral
Authorities said a July 13 fire that ravaged a Fall River, Massachusetts, assisted-living facility, killing 10 people and injuring more than 30 others, was an accident that may have been sparked by either a malfunctioning oxygen machine or the careless use or disposal of smoking materials. State Fire Marshal John Davin said during a news conference Tuesday the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility fire started in a resident's room on the second floor of the building. However, when authorities investigated and conducted initial interviews, they found the fire did not appear to have been set intentionally, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn. "[Authorities] found no signs that cooking, lighting, heating, electrical outlets or other appliances contributed to the ignition of this fire," Davin said. "They found no candles, incense or related items." The only items investigators found in the room that could have been related to the cause of the fire were an oxygen concentrator and numerous smoking materials in the room, according to Davin. Since the person who was in the room where the fire originated died in the blaze, authorities said the two most likely causes were a mechanical failure involving the oxygen concentrator or improper use or disposal of smoking materials. When authorities have two possible causes, the incident is ruled to have an "undetermined" cause. "Investigators believe the presence of medical oxygen played a significant role in the fire's rapid spread and the ensuing tragedy," Davin said. "Oxygen is a necessary component of any fire, and it was present in the area of origin and other locations at Gabriel House. In an oxygen-rich environment, the fire will ignite more readily, spread more rapidly and burn at higher temperatures." Home oxygen was a known factor in about 20 fire deaths and more than three dozen injuries in Massachusetts over the last 10 years, and it was a suspected factor in many others, according to the fire marshal. Incidents involving smoking materials are the leading cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts and across the nation. "Please, there's truly no safe way to smoke, but smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use," Davin cautioned. "No one should smoke around medical oxygen." Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon commended the work of first responders who appear in viral bodycam videos saving elderly residents from the home. "Over the past week, the Gabriel House victims, the survivors and their families have not left our thoughts for a single minute since last Sunday night," Bacon said during the news conference. "I can't imagine the loss they suffered or the pain they feel. What I can say is that every firefighter at the scene that night gave 100% and then gave more to preserve as many lives as they could under catastrophic conditions." Fox News Digital previously reported that five firefighters were among the more than 30 injured in the blaze. "We have a philosophy in the fire service: You risk a little to save a little, and you risk a lot to save a lot," Bacon said. "They risked everything in hopes that others might live. We mourn the lives lost and the decades of family memories that were erased as a fire, smoke and intense heat tore through Gabriel House. "I ask that you say a prayer for these families, and I also ask that you spare a thought for the first responders who are confronting their own trauma. They did a job no one should ever be asked to do, and I know they would do it again. They represented the very highest traditions of the fire service." In addition to on-duty fire crews, dozens of off-duty personnel raced to the fire to help, he said. The Fall River Police Department reported 35 officers also responded to help with evacuations. Bodycam footage showed police rushing to help, equipped with flashlights and explosive door-kicks. "Eleven officers and two sergeants exemplified professionalism, bravery, and selflessness in the face of danger," the police department wrote in a Facebook post. "The coordinated efforts of the Fall River Police Department, Fall River Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services demonstrated the unwavering commitment of our public safety personnel to protect and serve this community."
CNN
2 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Smoking or oxygen machine issue may have caused deadly fire at Massachusetts assisted-living home
Drugs in societyFacebookTweetLink Follow The cause of a fire at a Massachusetts assisted-living facility that left 10 people dead remains undetermined for now as officials investigate whether smoking materials and an issue with a medical oxygen machine may have been factors, officials said Tuesday. The state's deadliest blaze in more than four decades has highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care for low-income or disabled residents. The state fire marshal, Jon Davine, said the presence of medical oxygen contributed to the spread of the July 13 fire at Gabriel House in Fall River. The blaze left some residents of hanging out windows of the three-story building screaming for help. The fire in the blue-collar city in southern Massachusetts remains under investigation but authorities believe it happened unintentionally, Davine said at a news conference Tuesday. 'Please, there's truly no safe way to smoke. But smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use,' he said. Members of the local firefighter's union have said a lack of emergency personnel staffing in the city made responding to the blaze more difficult, and made the fire itself deadlier. Earlier Tuesday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the state was releasing $1.2 million for Fall River to hire more emergency response personnel. She also said additional funds will be expedited for the state's municipal public safety staffing program. 'We are here today to listen to make sure that we understand what this community needs now and moving forward in the wake of this tragedy,' Healey said. Healey said last week that a state agency that ensures regulatory compliance at assisted-living residences will investigate all 273 such facilities in Massachusetts to make sure they are prepared to protect residents during emergencies. She said Tuesday that work has begun. The district attorney's office identified the 10th victim as Halina Lawler, 70, on Monday. The victims of the fire ranged in age from 61 to 86. A resident of Gabriel House filed a lawsuit Monday alleging the facility was not properly managed, staffed or maintained, that residency rules were not enforced 'and emergency response procedures were not put in place.' Trapped in his room during the fire, Steven Oldrid was in an 'already compromised physical condition' when he suffered smoke inhalation and lost consciousness, according to the complaint filed in Bristol County Superior Court. As a result, Oldrid says he has increased mobility restrictions and has racked up medical bills for treatment. George K. Regan Jr., a spokesperson for the facility owned by Dennis Etzkorn, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit. A phone message was also left with Oldrid's attorney. Public injury law firm Morgan & Morgan also said last week it was hired to investigate the fire by the family of one of the residents killed at Gabriel House. Morgan & Morgan Communications Manager Emily Walsh said the law firm had already begun looking into whether the facility was adequately staffed and provided proper training to staff, as well as any potential code violations and possible failures of fire safety equipment. Etzkorn has said he is cooperating with investigations into the fire. Gabriel House issued a statement Monday emphasizing the importance of finding out 'exactly what caused this catastrophe, and if there were factors that made it worse.' The statement said the facility placed a premium on residents' safety. 'Maintaining compliance with all safety and building codes has always been our priority, and there were quarterly inspections of the fire suppression system – the latest as recently as five days prior to the fire,' said the facility's spokesperson.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Oxygen Machine Played Role in Fire That Killed 10 in Massachusetts, Officials Say
A fire that killed 10 people at an assisted living center in Fall River, Mass., this month began in a resident's second-floor room, where investigators found an oxygen machine and 'smoking materials,' officials said Tuesday. The presence of medical oxygen 'played a significant role' in the rapid start and spread of the fire on July 13 at the facility, Gabriel House, Jon Davine, the Massachusetts state fire marshal, said at a news conference. 'Smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use,' Mr. Davine said. 'No one should smoke around medical oxygen.' Officials said the fire was accidental. Thomas M. Quinn III, the district attorney for Bristol County, said that a preliminary examination of the scene and initial interviews, as well as additional evidence gathered in the last week, show that 'the fire did not appear to be set intentionally.' Investigators determined the fire began in a resident's room on the left side of the facility's second floor, Mr. Davine said. There were no signs that the fire was caused by cooking, lighting, heating, electrical outlets or appliances in the room, or by candles or incense, he said. But investigators found an oxygen concentrator — a medical device that filters oxygen from the air — and 'numerous smoking materials,' in the room, Mr. Davine said. An electrical or mechanical failure involving the oxygen concentrator, or the improper use or disposal of smoking materials, were identified as the two possible causes of the fire, Mr. Davine said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Owners of Fort Lauderdale assisted living home rack up $40,000 in fines, board says
The owners of an assisted living home accused of removing all of its residents to convert to luxury apartments have now racked up $40,000 in fines over the renovations, Fort Lauderdale code enforcement officials said at a meeting Tuesday. Management for Oasis Living Quarters announced the controversial evictions at a meeting in March, according to residents, employees and a state inspection report. As residents moved out, workers began tearing down partitions, demolishing kitchenettes and installing air conditioning units. But the facility never received a permit for the renovations or changed the building's use from an assisted and independent living home to apartment buildings, according to city officials. The removals, which included residents who were bedridden or had dementia, also led to a lawsuit and citations from the state over the lack of written notice. Attorneys for Oasis have claimed that it did provide notice. At a May 27 code enforcement hearing, an angry code enforcement board decided to give the owner of the property, Lauderdale Commercial Blvd Partners LLC, two weeks to comply with code and then begin fining them $1,000 a day if they did not comply. The LLC is connected to Lee and Jay Podolsky, members of a family of notorious landlords in New York City, the Sun Sentinel previously reported. On June 11, the fines began. By Tuesday, the fines totaled $40,000 and are continuing to increase each day, officials said. Andrew Gebbia, the building inspector, said he visited the property last week and the owners still were not in compliance with code. At that point, the contractor had not submitted applications for plumbing and electrical permits, Gebbia said. As of Tuesday, he had submitted the two applications but both still required additional documents and information. Asked if the building was occupied, Gebbia said yes, but not the units that were under construction. Half of the property that was once Oasis' assisted living side is already operating as Waterview luxury apartments. The assisted living residents had first been moved into the other half, then told to leave in March. Ariel Grosfeld, an attorney for the Abrams Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale, appeared at the Tuesday meeting on behalf of the owners, asking the board to postpone the case until the next meeting because the attorneys for the owners are at trial. She also cited 'the convoluted nature of the case, the procedural history, and the irregularities from city staff.' 'If they get the continuances, the fine still accrues, it's still a thousand in a day?' asked Jacquie Shaw, a member of the board. Assistant City Attorney Rhonda Montoya Hasan said yes, unless the board decides otherwise. The board voted to postpone the hearing until August and to continue fining the owners $1,000 a day in the meantime. A lawsuit in Broward County Court over the removals remains active. It was originally filed on behalf of a bedridden tenant still living at the facility. She later died shortly after moving out. Grosfeld, the attorney for the property, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
CNN
2 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Smoking or oxygen machine issue may have caused deadly fire at Massachusetts assisted-living home
The cause of a fire at a Massachusetts assisted-living facility that left 10 people dead remains undetermined for now as officials investigate whether smoking materials and an issue with a medical oxygen machine may have been factors, officials said Tuesday. The state's deadliest blaze in more than four decades has highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care for low-income or disabled residents. The state fire marshal, Jon Davine, said the presence of medical oxygen contributed to the spread of the July 13 fire at Gabriel House in Fall River. The blaze left some residents of hanging out windows of the three-story building screaming for help. The fire in the blue-collar city in southern Massachusetts remains under investigation but authorities believe it happened unintentionally, Davine said at a news conference Tuesday. 'Please, there's truly no safe way to smoke. But smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use,' he said. Members of the local firefighter's union have said a lack of emergency personnel staffing in the city made responding to the blaze more difficult, and made the fire itself deadlier. Earlier Tuesday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the state was releasing $1.2 million for Fall River to hire more emergency response personnel. She also said additional funds will be expedited for the state's municipal public safety staffing program. 'We are here today to listen to make sure that we understand what this community needs now and moving forward in the wake of this tragedy,' Healey said. Healey said last week that a state agency that ensures regulatory compliance at assisted-living residences will investigate all 273 such facilities in Massachusetts to make sure they are prepared to protect residents during emergencies. She said Tuesday that work has begun. The district attorney's office identified the 10th victim as Halina Lawler, 70, on Monday. The victims of the fire ranged in age from 61 to 86. A resident of Gabriel House filed a lawsuit Monday alleging the facility was not properly managed, staffed or maintained, that residency rules were not enforced 'and emergency response procedures were not put in place.' Trapped in his room during the fire, Steven Oldrid was in an 'already compromised physical condition' when he suffered smoke inhalation and lost consciousness, according to the complaint filed in Bristol County Superior Court. As a result, Oldrid says he has increased mobility restrictions and has racked up medical bills for treatment. George K. Regan Jr., a spokesperson for the facility owned by Dennis Etzkorn, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit. A phone message was also left with Oldrid's attorney. Public injury law firm Morgan & Morgan also said last week it was hired to investigate the fire by the family of one of the residents killed at Gabriel House. Morgan & Morgan Communications Manager Emily Walsh said the law firm had already begun looking into whether the facility was adequately staffed and provided proper training to staff, as well as any potential code violations and possible failures of fire safety equipment. Etzkorn has said he is cooperating with investigations into the fire. Gabriel House issued a statement Monday emphasizing the importance of finding out 'exactly what caused this catastrophe, and if there were factors that made it worse.' The statement said the facility placed a premium on residents' safety. 'Maintaining compliance with all safety and building codes has always been our priority, and there were quarterly inspections of the fire suppression system – the latest as recently as five days prior to the fire,' said the facility's spokesperson.
