Woman, 66, in critical condition after Massachusetts assisted-living fire, officials say

A 66-year-old woman was in critical condition after a fire that ripped through a Massachusetts assisted-living facility earlier this week, officials said, as records and accounts from staff raise concerns about conditions at Gabriel House before the blaze.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office had announced Thursday that Brenda Cropper had died the previous day, but said in an emailed statement Friday that there had been “a miscommunication with a medical agency” and that Cropper remained in critical condition.

The office did not release any more information about Cropper or about the fire itself, which erupted Sunday evening and left some residents hanging out windows of the three-story facility screaming for help.

The cause remains under investigation, but the district attorney’s office says it does not appear suspicious. Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon says the blaze started in a room on the second floor.

At least 30 people were hurt and nine people were initially reported dead, all over the age of 60, as thick smoke and flames trapped residents inside. The fire chief said Wednesday that a second person was also in critical condition.

Boards cover the windows of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, where a fire on Sunday killed several people, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi)

Inspection reports released Thursday by the city’s Bureau of Fire Investigation identified no problems at Gabriel House going back to 2019. The reports cover things like sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, exit doors and general housekeeping.

However, displaced residents and relatives have told of substandard conditions at the facility in Fall River, a blue-collar community of shuttered textile mills that’s one of the poorest cities in Massachusetts.

The tragedy has called attention to the minimal regulations that govern assisted-living facilities. The facility’s owner, Dennis Etzkorn, had repeatedly been cited by state regulators for tardiness in reporting potential health and safety incidents. He has declined to comment to The Associated Press.

In documents released Wednesday, receipts from pest control companies as far back as 2015 showed Gabriel House being treated for bed bugs and other pests. A 2015 receipt described the dining room as “filthy” and that “food was undercooked.”

Jenn Marley, who worked at the facility as a certified nursing assistant from 2018 to January 2020, said bedbugs, cockroaches and mice were a problem, and that some bathrooms were filthy even though residents were supposed to get help with cleaning. Management kept track of residents who asked for more toilet paper, she said in an interview.

Flowers sit at a makeshift memorial in front of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, where a fire on Sunday killed several people, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi)

“God forbid if they ran out of toilet paper, the boss would complain that we had to give them a roll,” she said.

Marley said she sometimes made large batches of chili at home and brought it to residents because she worried they weren’t getting enough to eat. Portions served at Gabriel House were noticeably small, she said.

“Hot dogs and a teaspoon of beans. I’m sorry, my cat eats more than that,” said Marley, who described a cook yelling at a resident who asked for more.

“You expect better conditions,” she said. “It’s sad.”

Those who died have been identified as Joseph Wilansky, 77, Rui Albernaz, 64, Ronald Codega, 61, Margaret Duddy, 69, Robert King, 78, Kim Mackin, 71, Richard Rochon, 78, and Eleanor Willett, 86. The identity of a 70-year-old woman has not been released.

Union officials say the city didn’t staff enough firefighters to rescue all the residents trapped in the blaze. It’s a contention that city officials have since sought to resolve by promising to add more firefighters to each shift, initially via overtime and eventually by hiring new staff.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.