FALL RIVER, Mass. — A devastating fire at an assisted living facility in Massachusetts has claimed the lives of nine individuals, with many residents desperately hanging out of windows calling for help. The incident occurred at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on Sunday night, prompting a swift response from local firefighters.

Firefighters arrived at the scene around 9:50 p.m. to find heavy smoke and flames engulfing the front of the building. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services reported that approximately 70 residents were living in the facility at the time of the fire. By Monday morning, the fire was extinguished, allowing firefighters to enter the building and rescue numerous occupants. However, several individuals were tragically declared dead at the scene.

A total of about 50 firefighters responded to the emergency, including 30 who were off-duty. Many of the rescued residents were transported to local and regional hospitals, with varying degrees of injuries. Five firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the rescue efforts.

“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,” said Chief Jeffrey Bacon during a press conference. He described the harrowing scene, stating, “multiple people were hanging out the windows looking to be rescued.”

Family members gathered at the scene, anxiously searching for their loved ones. Leo Johnson, 45, rushed to the facility to find his 68-year-old mother, who lives on the top floor. “I was kinda freaking out because she wasn’t one of the ones outside,” he recounted. Fortunately, he found her outside, soaked from the sprinklers that had activated during the fire.

The Fall River Police Department praised the bravery of their officers, who entered the smoke-filled building without hesitation. They broke down doors and escorted residents to safety, physically carrying approximately a dozen non-ambulatory residents out of the facility. “Their bravery and quick action undoubtedly saved many lives,” the department stated.

The cause and origin of the fire are currently under investigation by state and local authorities. Fall River, a city with a population of about 94,000, is located approximately 20 miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island.