Gabriel House Fire After Action Report results in Fall River Firefighter’s Union continued push for more staffing, improvements

The release of a recent report has resulted in a continued push for improvements.

The Fall River Firefighters IAFF Local 1314 has issued the following statement after the Gabriel House Fire After Action Report was released.

“The recently released Gabriel House Fire After Action Report clearly identifies the critical role that staffing levels play in the success and safety of both firefighters and residents. According to the report and NFPA 1710 standards, incidents involving high-risk occupancies—like assisted living facilities—require a minimum of 42 firefighters on scene within the first 10 minutes to perform rescue, fire attack, and medical operations safely and effectively.

“Through collaboration with Mayor Paul Coogan and his administration, we have taken an important step forward by increasing daily staffing from 35 to 38 firefighters, ensuring that all six engine companies are now staffed with four firefighters each, meeting NFPA 1710’s minimum recommendation for engine companies.

“However, our work is not done. NFPA 1710 also recommends that all apparatus, including ladder trucks and heavy rescue companies, be staffed with a minimum of four firefighters. Currently, our three ladder trucks and Heavy Rescue 1 respond with only three personnel each—leaving critical gaps in safety and efficiency on the fireground.

“By NFPA 1710’s minimum standards, Fall River should have 44 firefighters on duty each shift to provide adequate coverage for our community and ensure safe, effective emergency operations.

“Nine missing firefighters might sound minor on paper,” President O’Reagan continued, “but those are the hands that throw ladders, stretch hose lines, and carry our residents to safety. We cannot continue to gamble with lives by ignoring these standards.”

“Local 1314 calls for the immediate implementation of full four-person staffing on every engine, ladder and heavy rescue company, compliance with minimum NFPA 1710, and dispatch policies that recognize the unique risks of high-occupancy and assisted-living facilities.

“Local 1314 fully supports the report’s recommendation to assign permanent District Chief Aides on all shifts. These aides enhance command-level effectiveness by maintaining accountability, monitoring crew locations, managing radio traffic, coordinating mutual aid and EMS integration, and allowing chiefs to focus on overall incident strategy.

“Having permanent DC Aides will make every scene safer and more organized,” said Vice President Michael Baldi. “This change is essential, and we’re asking the city to make it a priority.”

ADDITIONAL KEY RECOMMENDATIONS SUPPORTED BY THE FALL RIVER FIREFIGHTERS

• Acquisition of a mobile air cascade/support unit to refill SCBA cylinders and outfit recalled personnel with SCBA, radios and flashlights.
• Expansion of the Fire Prevention Bureau; including bringing back the Fire Prevention Lieutenant who has been unfilled since 2014 and increased pre-fire planning for high-risk occupancies.
• Comprehensive building-specific evacuation and shelter-in-place training for staff in assisted-living facilities.
• Stronger state and local code enforcement, including fire-door compartmentalization and life-safety inspections consistent with NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.
• Integration of EMS under the Incident Command System (ICS) during mass-casualty events to ensure unified command and medical coordination.

“The Fall River Firefighters agree with the report’s conclusion that adequate staffing, accountability, and planning “are essential to safeguard both residents and responders.”

“Studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have shown that four-person firefighter crews complete fireground tasks 25% faster than three-person crews, resulting in faster rescues, quicker fire control, and better outcomes for the community (Kerber & Madrzykowski, 2010, NIST Technical Note 1661).

“This tragedy serves as a somber reminder that staffing is not just a labor issue—it is a public safety issue. Every firefighter on duty, every position filled, and every second saved can mean the difference between life and death.

Fall River Firefighters urge the City of Fall River and Massachusetts to:

1. Commit to NFPA 1710 compliance with minimum four-person companies across the department.
2. Fund and implement permanent District Chief Aides immediately.
3. Support creation of a state-level SAFER-style grant program to help municipalities increase staffing safely and sustainably.
4. Enact legislative updates applying NFPA 101 Life Safety standards to assisted-living, group-home, and other vulnerable occupancies.
   

“The After-Action Report shouldn’t gather dust on a shelf,” President O’Reagan said. “It is a roadmap for how to fix what is broken. Our firefighters and residents deserve nothing less.” On behalf of the Fall River Firefighters, we pledge to honor those lost by ensuring that the lessons from Gabriel House drive real, lasting improvements in public safety for the City of
Fall River.

The After Action Report is available for public download through the Fall River Fire Department’s section of City of Fall River website and can be accessed at:
https://www.fallriverma.gov/departments/public_safety/fire_department/index.php