An assisted-living center in Massachusetts, where nine people died in a fire on Sunday, was cited for failing to report within 24 hours more than two dozen safety incidents years before the tragedy, according to the state’s compliance report of the facility.
The Associated Press reported that between May 5, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2023, the Gabriel House assisted-living center submitted at least 26 reports of safety incidents that damaged residents’ health past the required 24-hour reporting window. Massachusetts’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs last inspected the facility on Oct. 31, 2023.
The state report did not disclose the total number of incidents nor what they involved.
A fire broke out in the building Sunday night, killing five men and four women and injuring at least 30 others. About 70 people lived in the 100-unit Gabriel House in Fall River, 50 miles south of Boston.
About 50 firefighters responded and extinguished the fire by Monday morning. Many residents remained trapped inside the three-story building after staffers fled the scene.
“They left us alone and ran out into the parking lot,” Lorraine Ferrara told the outlet. “I was hanging out the window, [saying] ‘Help! Help!’ and they just kept running.”
Only two to three staffers were working at the time of the emergency, leading many to scrutinize the small staff size at Gabriel House.
Massachusetts regulations do not require a set number of staffers at assisted-living centers in the state, but do task the facilities with emergency preparedness.
“The Residence’s staffing shall be sufficient to respond promptly and effectively to individual Resident emergencies,” state documents read. “The Residence shall have a plan to secure staffing necessary to respond to emergency, life safety and disaster situations affecting Residents.”
The state’s compliance report cited Gabriel House for seven deficiencies and found documents to be missing, including documentation for residents’ eye drop medications and employee health records.
One employee described the facility as a “horror show,” alleging it was infested with cockroaches, bed bugs, and mice.
Gabriel House has allegedly long been neglected by owner Dennis Etzkorn, who has previously come under legal scrutiny. In 2012, he was indicted on suspected medical insurance fraud and kickback charges related to his business, Gabriel Care. The criminal charges were dismissed in 2015.
Etzkorn told the Boston Globe that he and his family were “devastated by the tragedy” and will continue cooperating with authorities.
NINE DEATHS IN FIRE AT MASSACHUSETTS ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
Authorities identified seven of the nine victims, ranging in age from 61 to 86. The names of the last two deceased were not yet released pending notification of their families.
As of Tuesday, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.