By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Massachusetts recorded 44 fire-related deaths in 30 fires in 2025, a decline from 50 in 2024, according to state data. FireRescue1
• A July fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River killed 10 people, the state’s deadliest blaze in decades. FireRescue1
• Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred in residential settings, with many lacking working smoke alarms. FireRescue1
• Smoking materials and oxygen are cited as leading contributing factors in multiple fatal blazes. CapeCod.com
FALL RIVER, MA — Massachusetts saw a drop in fire deaths in 2025, but a summer blaze at an assisted living facility in Fall River resulted in the highest loss of life from a single fire in the state in decades. FireRescue1
State fire officials reported that 44 people died in 30 fires in 2025, down from 50 fire deaths in 2024. The count excludes fatalities linked to motor vehicle collisions that led to fire. FireRescue1
In July, a fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River claimed 10 lives and injured more than 30 people, making it the deadliest incident in the state in over 40 years. Massachusetts Government
Most fatal fires in 2025 occurred in homes, including single-family and multi-family residences, with many lacking functioning smoke alarms at the time of ignition. FireRescue1
State fire officials noted unsafe use or disposal of smoking materials was a leading factor in fire deaths last year, and investigators have highlighted the increased risk when smoking materials interact with medical oxygen. CapeCod.com
This is a developing story.