After a deadly fire tore through the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, residents are coming together to help survivors. The fire, which started on Sunday evening, killed nine people and injured 30 others. One person remains in critical condition, and with around 70 residents in the building at the time, many are now without a home.
In the immediate aftermath, the city opened a temporary shelter at the Timao Center on Bay Street. By Monday night, most survivors had been moved to safe locations, according to Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan. The shelters quickly filled with first responders, volunteers, and local residents offering essential supplies and emotional support.
"We don't have the best reputation here in Fall River," said local business owner Christopher Silvia, "but when something happens to one of our own, we rally and we support that person. We've done it time and time again. This is on a grander scale, but we'll get it done for sure."
Community organizer Sharron Furtado, who has long been involved in helping those in need, emphasized the importance of financial support right now. “I know people love to help by giving clothes and things like that, but these people don’t need that right now. They really need monetary donations,” she said. Furtado launched a GoFundMe campaign just hours after the fire, which had already raised over $19,000 within 4.5 hours.
The Firefighters' Wives Association has teamed up with Christopher's Eatery, a local restaurant that is pausing its regular menu this week to focus on relief efforts. They are collecting donations and providing resources to help survivors through what will be a long and difficult recovery.
“We're going to do what we can to help all these families. The best we can,” Furtado added. “You can’t get their lives back. But we can do what we can.”
For those interested in volunteering or making donations, more information is available on the Firefighters Wives Association Facebook page.
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