Victim of fatal Fall River fire files lawsuit against operator of Gabriel House

Steven Oldrid, a resident of Fall River’s Gabriel House, has filed a lawsuit following a deadly fire at the facility on July 13 which killed 10 people and injured dozens more. The blaze, classified as a five-alarm fire, ravaged a wing of the building on Oliver Street, trapping residents inside their rooms and forcing some to hang from windows in desperation while awaiting rescue.

According to the Boston Globe, the lawsuit, filed in Bristol County Superior Court, names Gabriel Care, Inc. (the operator of Gabriel House) as the defendant.

Oldrid alleges that due to the company’s negligence, he was trapped in his room during the fire, suffering smoke inhalation, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, and exacerbation of his pre-existing physical conditions. Specific claims include that the facility was not properly managed, staffed, maintained, or supervised; that residency rules were not enforced; and that emergency response procedures were inadequate or nonexistent.

Oldrid is seeking damages for serious injuries including medical and hospital expenses.

Gabriel House representatives have previously stated that resident safety has been a priority since acquiring the facility in 1999, with compliance to safety codes and recent inspections confirming the fire suppression system’s functionality just days before the incident.

Press conferences today by the Bristol County DA and Governor Healey are expected to shed more light on the investigation.