Residential Fire in Boston Claims Life of Portuguese National
In a devastating turn of events, a five-alarm fire that broke out at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, on the night of July 13–14, 2025, has claimed the lives of nine residents and left more than 30 people injured, including five firefighters.
The fire, which has been dubbed the 2025 Fall River assisted-living fire or Gabriel House fire, occurred in a residential home where an assisted living facility was located. Local newspapers have reported this as the deadliest fire in Massachusetts in the last 41 years.
The fire department's chief, Jeffrey Bacon, made statements to the local press regarding the incident, expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims and praising the bravery of the firefighters who responded to the call.
At least one of the victims was a Portuguese national, and the Portuguese government has expressed regret over the loss of life. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal made the announcement about the death on Thursday. The Portuguese government has also sent condolences to the family of the deceased and is monitoring the situation locally through its diplomatic network.
Preliminary findings suggest that the fire originated in a single resident's room on the second-floor south wing and is currently deemed accidental, pending further laboratory analysis. The investigation involves multiple agencies, including the Fall River Fire Department, Fall River Police Department, State Police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, and the Bristol County District Attorney’s office, with support from code compliance officers from the Department of Fire Services.
As of July 17, 2025, eight of the nine victims have been publicly identified by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. However, two bodies are yet to be identified among the reported deaths. No new details have been released about changes in the victim identification or additional findings in the investigation. The situation remains under active investigation with officials focused on determining the definitive cause and circumstances of the fire.
The fire department's spokesperson did not provide specific details about the victims or their nationalities. Thirty-five firefighters responded to the fire call on Sunday night, and no information about the status of the injured individuals has been disclosed.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety in assisted living facilities and the need for continued efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. The community of Fall River and beyond are left mourning the loss of life and offering support to the families and friends of the victims.
[1] Local News Source, 2025. "5-Alarm Fire at Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility Leaves Nine Dead, Over 30 Injured." Accessed July 17, 2025.
[2] National News Agency, 2025. "Massachusetts Fire at Assisted Living Facility Kills Nine, Injures Over 30." Accessed July 17, 2025.
- The devastating fire at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Massachusetts has been covered extensively in both local and national news, labeled as the 2025 Fall River assisted-living fire or Gabriel House fire.
- The general-news outlets report that this fire, which has claimed nine lives and left many injured, is unfortunately the deadliest fire in Massachusetts in the last 41 years.
- Crime-and-justice reports reveal that the Portuguese government has expressed regret over the loss of a Portuguese national in the fire and has sent condolences to the family, demonstrating an international interest in the incident.
