The city of Taunton is urging long-term care facilities to up their fire prevention measures. Fall River may follow suit.

The family of a resident at the Gabriel House assisted living facility has retained a law firm to investigate the circumstances leading up to the deadly Sunday fire that killed nine people and left dozens injured.

There’s no doubt in my mind that that fire was destined to kill 50-plus people,” Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said Wednesday.

What they saw upon initial arrival on the scene was horrific and at times, they were powerless and couldn’t perform the duties that they wanted to.”

The preventable tragedy at Gabriel House demonstrates the potential suffering posed to vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, by the savage cuts to social programs in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” relied upon by millions.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s office said it erroneously reported 66-year-old Brenda Cropper dead due to a “miscommunication.”