At least nine individuals died and dozens sustained injuries after a fire swept through a Massachusetts assisted living facility Sunday night.

Firefighters responded to the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River around 9:50 p.m.

About 50 firefighters responded to the blaze, with five sustaining injuries.

“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the families involved and the Fall River community,” Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said, according to the New York Post.

“At this time Emergency services have declared a mass-casualty incident in Fall River, Massachusetts, where a devastating four-alarm fire has torn through a nursing home assisted living facility. Firefighters are actively pulling bodies from the charred structure, while multiple victims have been transported on stretchers to nearby hospitals,” Rawsalerts wrote.

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“A partial roof collapse has been reported, further complicating rescue efforts. The exact number of fatalities and injuries remains unknown at this time. Crews continue to battle the blaze, and an urgent investigation into the cause is now underway they are asking the public to avoid the area,” the post added.

More from the New York Post:

“Crews were met with heavy fire coming through the main entrance and multiple people hanging out the windows, looking to be rescued,” Bacon told reporters outside the Gabriel House facility.

“That is something that none of us want to ever pull up to,” the fire chief said.

“They showed up to the scene, obviously fire, smoke, and victims screaming for rescue out windows, and it makes for a chaotic scene.”

“Every firefighter on duty in the city was here,” Bacon said, as well as about 30 who were off duty but “got up here quick enough to affect those rescues.”

The bodies of some of the dead remained inside the facility Monday morning, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogen told WJAR. At least one of those hospitalized remains in critical condition.

“Our hearts are with the City of Fall River and the families grieving after last night’s terrible fire in an assisted living facility. Thank you to Fall River FD, PD, EMS, EMA, and others who undertook heroic efforts to rescue and treat occupants,” the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services said.

WCVB-TV Boston interviewed one of residents rescued from the facility:

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WCVB noted:

Some of the nine victims died at the scene, while others died after they were transported to local hospitals. One of the 30 people who was hospitalized remains in critical condition. Five firefighters who were transported to hospitals with minor injuries were later released.

The police department, fire department and EMS rescued “dozens” of residents from the facility to save multiple lives, Bacon said.

“Were it not for the heroic work — the brave work — these men and women showed last night, particularly our fire, police and EMS, we would have seen a much greater loss of life,” said Gov. Maura Healey, who visited the scene Monday. “To the family and friends of those who perished, I offer my condolences and sympathy on behalf of the commonwealth for this tragic loss.”

Fall River Mayor John Coogan said the police and fire did a spectacular job rescuing residents and working to keep the scene under control in the face of indescribable tragedy.

 

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