Fall River firefighter union member claims staff shortages affected assisted living fire outcome

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — Along with police and emergency medical services, about 50 firefighters were at the Gabriel House assisted living facility.

About 30 of those firefighters were off-duty.

Hours after the fire was knocked down and survivors were receiving care, some first responders with the Fall River Fire Department union began to speak out about the city’s management of the department.

A union member said if previously identified staffing issues were resolved, more lives could have been saved.

“We have been plagued with manpower shortages, we should be running with four, we only run with three, had we had four persons on each apparatus, as we’re supposed to, we would’ve had an extra eight firefighters on duty, and we could’ve extricated more of these people and we may have had a better outcome.”

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan responded to that claim, saying this is not the time for politics.

“We staff at the number the chief gives us. That’s what we put in the budget,” said Coogan.