The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations approved new fire safety requirements Thursday in an effort to prevent future tragedies like the deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River.

 

The new requirements, which will be included in next year’s edition of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, include annual checks for recalled sprinkler heads and the prompt replacement of faulty equipment.

 

“The Gabriel House residents and their families have not left our thoughts in the 15 months since that tragic night in 2025,” Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Devine said. “Nothing can fill the void left by their loved ones, but I hope this makes clear to them that we are committed to saving other families from enduring the same heartbreak.”

The tragedy at Gabriel House on July 13, 2025, shook the city to its core and marked the state’s deadliest fire in more than 40 years.

 

Firefighters rushed to the assisted living facility early that morning after receiving several 911 calls from inside the building. Those firefighters were immediately met with thick black smoke, roaring flames and trapped residents hanging out of windows.

 

More than 30 residents and five firefighters were brought to nearby hospitals to receive treatment for various injuries.

 

There were approximately 70 residents of varying mobility living at the Gabriel House, which first opened in 1999, at the time of fire. The residents who survived their injuries or escaped unharmed lost nearly everything in the fire, including a place to live.

 

Investigators believe the fire started in a second-floor room where an oxygen concentrator and smoking materials were later found, but they were unable to confirm the exact origin since the resident who lived there passed away.

 

Gabriel House’s fire suppression system also failed to activate, and it was later discovered that the sprinkler heads had been recalled more than 20 years ago.

 

The Fall River Fire Department took a proactive approach in the wake of the Gabriel House fire and discovered recalled sprinklers during at least four building inspections.

 

The Fall River Fire Department and National Fire Sprinkler Association has been actively pushing to change fire safety codes statewide since the tragedy.

 

“We owe it to those families to do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again,” Healey said. “We will continue working to strengthen safety, prevent future tragedies and protect our residents.”

 

See more at wpri.com.