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- Death toll from fire at senior living facility in Massachusetts increases</p>
<p>Dan Medeiros, USA TODAY NETWORKJuly 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM</p>
<p>A 10th person has died after a fire engulfed an assisted living facility in Massachusetts nearly a week ago, authorities said.</p>
<p>The fire broke out the evening of July 13 at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, about 50 miles south of Boston, trapping residents inside and forcing first responders to kick down doors and pull screaming people out through windows.</p>
<p>Brenda Cropper, 66, died of her injuries on July 18, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office confirmed the morning of July 19. She had been hospitalized in critical condition since the fire.</p>
<p>"Her passing was expected," the DA's office said in a statement.</p>
<p>The DA's office previously incorrectly reported her death prematurely after what it said was "miscommunication with a medical agency."</p>
<p>The investigation into the fire's origin and cause continues, by the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Section assigned to the State Fire Marshall's Office, the Fall River Fire and Police Departments, in conjunction with State Troopers assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.</p>
<p>The other Gabriel House residents who have died include: Rui Albernaz, 64; Ronald Codega, 61; Margaret Duddy, 69; Robert King, 78; Kim Mackin, 71; Richard Rochon, 78; Eleanor Willett, 86; and Joseph Wilansky, 77. The DA's office has not yet publicly identified a 70-year-old woman who died in the fire.</p>
<p>Over 30 people were taken to hospitals with injuries, including at least five firefighters with minor injuries, authorities previously said.</p>
<p>What happened at the Gabriel House fire?</p>
<p>It remains unknown how the fire started; the fire does not appear suspicious, but investigators haven't yet narrowed down the potential factors to a single cause, according to Department of Fire Services spokesperson Jake Wark.</p>
<p>The fire created heavy smoke, and air conditioning units that blocked the windows made rescues difficult, according to Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon.</p>
<p>Kerry Leckey lived in a first-floor apartment and fled the building using her walker. She was scrolling on her phone when she heard fire alarms ring out, and as she made her way out of the building she saw upper levels "completely engulfed in flames."</p>
<p>Everything in her apartment was destroyed and three of her friends are among the dead, she told the Herald News, part of the USA TODAY Network.</p>
<p>"I've only been there two months but I met a handful of really nice people and became pretty close to them in a short period of time, and three of them are gone," she said.</p>
<p>Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Christopher Cann, Dan Medeiros, Julia Gomez and Linda Murphy, USA TODAY Network</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Death toll from fire at Massachusetts senior living facility increases</p>
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