10th victim dies from injuries suffered in fire at Fall River assisted-living facility
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By Bryan Lambert
FALL RIVER, Mass. — A tenth person has died following Sunday night’s devastating fire at a Fall River assisted living facility, the Bristol County District Attorney’s office said Thursday.
66-year-old Brenda Cropper passed away late Wednesday night, days after fire and smoke filled the Gabriel House on Oliver Street around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quin III had previously identified other victims as 64-year-old Rui Albernaz, 61-year-old Ronald Codega, 69-year-old Margaret Duddy, 78-year-old Robert King, 71-year-old Kim Mackin, 78-year-old Richard Rochon,77-year-old Joseph Wilansky and 86-year-old Eleanor Willett.
The identity of one victim, a 70-year-old woman, is not yet being publicly released as next of kin notification is still pending.
Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said the scene was tricky and chaotic when crews first arrived on the scene because several residents were seen hanging out of windows and doorways, waiting to be rescued.
The 100-unit assisted-living facility opened in 1999. Some photos on its Facebook page show neat rooms but older-looking carpeting and furniture.
Deadly fire Nine residents of an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, died and another 30 were sent to are hospitals after a fire broke out at Gabriel House. (Boston25News)
Massachusetts Fatal Fire Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey approaches a news conference to face reporters Monday, July 14, 2025, near the Gabriel House assisted living facility, behind, following a fire that started late Sunday in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Massachusetts Fatal Fire A law enforcement official removes boxes containing patient medications from the Gabriel House assisted living facility following a fire that resulted in multiple fatalities, in Fall River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Massachusetts Fatal Fire Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, left, faces reporters near the Gabriel House assisted living facility, behind, Monday, July 14, 2025, following a fire at the facility that started late Sunday, in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Massachusetts Fatal Fire An investigator takes measurements Monday, July 14, 2025, near an entrance to the Gabriel House assisted living facility following a fire that started late Sunday in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Massachusetts-Fatal Fire Dennis Etzkorn, owner of Gabriel House, right, visits the site in the aftermath of a fire alongside Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, left, Monday, July 14 in Fall River, Mass, (Michael Casey) (Michael Casey/AP)
Massachusetts-Fatal Fire This image taken from video provided by WLNE-TV shows authorities working on the scene of a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Mass., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (WLNE-TV via AP) (Uncredited/AP)
Massachusetts-Fatal Fire This image taken from video provided by WLNE-TV shows damage from a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Mass., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (WLNE-TV via AP) (Uncredited/AP)
Massachusetts-Fatal Fire This image taken from video provided by WLNE-TV shows a firefighter working on the aftermath of a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Mass., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (WLNE-TV via AP) (Uncredited/AP)
Massachusetts-Fatal Fire Falls River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, right, speaks with another official after a fire the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Falls River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Casey) (Michael Casey/AP)
Massachusetts-Fatal Fire The Gabriel House assisted living facility is shown after a fire in Falls River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Casey) (Michael Casey/AP)
Mayor Paul Coogan and IAFF General President Edward Kelly announced on Wednesday that staffing levels at the Fall River Fire Department will increase immediately.
City leaders say now they’ll have six fire trucks fully staffed with four firefighters per truck. Previously, only two fire trucks were fully staffed.
They will start by using overtime shifts and eventually, over the next two years, the plan is to hire 15 to 20 more firefighters because of the tragedy at the Gabriel House Sunday night.
As of Wednesday night, Chief Jeffrey Bacon says they will be putting out overtime shifts for the three apparatus.