10th Victim Dies Following Fire at Fall River Assisted Living Facility
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A 66-year-old woman has become the tenth fatality linked to a fire that swept through a Massachusetts assisted living facility last weekend, officials confirmed Saturday.
Brenda Cropper passed away Friday at a hospital, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III. She had remained in critical condition throughout the week. Authorities noted that her death was mistakenly reported earlier due to a communication error.
The fire broke out on Sunday evening, engulfing the three-story building and forcing some residents to dangle from windows and call out for help.
Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the blaze, but officials have stated there is no indication of foul play. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon reported that the fire originated in a second-floor room.
More than 30 individuals were injured as smoke and flames quickly spread through the facility, trapping many residents. Documents and witness statements have raised serious concerns about safety conditions at the Gabriel House residence.
