Fall River Fire Chief releases cause of late-night blaze, issues update on rescued 10-year-old

Fall River, MA — An update has been released concerning a fire and rescue that took place just before midnight on Friday.

According to Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, the Fall River Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 135 Snell Street after 911 callers reported that occupants might be trapped inside the building.

Upon arrival, crews encountered active fire conditions and immediately initiated multiple critical operations. Firefighters stretched hose lines to attack the fire, placed ladders around the structure, and deployed search teams into the building simultaneously. Thanks to this coordinated effort, a 10-year-old child was located and safely rescued through a window by firefighters. The child was transported to Saint Anne’s Hospital for evaluation and observation.

The cause of the fire was determined to be an unattended candle used during a religious ceremony.

Bacon credited added staffing for a more positive outcome.

“Last night’s successful rescue and rapid-fire suppression were made possible in large part due to the increased staffing levels on our fire engines, which allowed multiple operations (fire attack, search, ventilation, and ladder placement) to be carried out at the same time. This enhanced manpower directly contributed to the efficient rescue of the child and containment of the incident. The Fall River Fire Department commends the professionalism and teamwork of all crews who responded.”

The Fall River Fire Department reminds all residents of the importance of candle safety, including never leaving candles unattended, keeping them away from combustible materials, and using battery-operated alternatives whenever possible.