Mass. announces $1.2M for Fall River, launches assisted‑living fire‑safety review after Gabriel House blaze

Governor Maura Healey announced at a news briefing in Fall River that the state will make $1,200,000 in funding available to the city to hire additional emergency response personnel and that her administration has launched a statewide fire and life safety initiative for assisted‑living residences.

The move follows a fatal fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility. "For that purpose, today, I'm announcing that I'm making $1,200,000 in state funding available for Fall River to hire more emergency response personnel," Healey said. She also said the state will expedite the release of funds from a municipal public safety staffing program that has $5,700,000 available for police and fire in 10 eligible communities.

The governor said the new statewide effort will require the 273 assisted‑living residences in Massachusetts to provide detailed information demonstrating compliance with fire safety requirements, including sprinkler systems, evacuation protocols, and…