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New safety review for all Mass. assisted-living facilities after Fall River fire

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New safety review for all Mass. assisted-living facilities after Fall River fire


In the wake of the deadly Gabriel House fire disaster in Fall River, all assisted-living facilities in Massachusetts are being ordered to share their fire safety plans by the end of next week, the Healey administration announced Friday.

All 273 facilities in Massachusetts will also have share evacuation routes and instructions with residents and their families and ensure they are posted widely in the building, complete a fire safety assessment survey, report the age of key fire safety systems and submit their latest emergency preparedness plan to the Executive Office of Aging & Independence, officials said.

The office is working to finish a proposal for stronger regulatory requirements at the state’s assisted-living facilities that predates the Fall River fire but which is being reevaluated in the wake of the blaze.

Nine people died after the fire at Gabriel House this weekend, and dozens more were injured.

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“What happened in Fall River is a horrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and to the first responders who saved so many others,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement. “This is a moment to make sure that every Assisted Living Residence is prepared to respond to emergencies and to protect the safety of their residents.”

The fire at Gabriel House has left at least nine people dead. Investigators are still looking into its cause, but believe it was accidental.

Evacuations stretched on for the better part of an hour — the city’s fire chief has praised police officers for their part in it. After the Fall River firefighter union said crews’ response was hampered by low staffing, negotiations with the city led to the announcement of a boost in staffing on fire trucks.

Some of Gabriel House’s inspection records have been released, but compliance is part of the ongoing investigations into what happened.

We’re learning more about past inspections of the Fall River assisted living facility where a deadly fire broke out.

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As part of the new Fire and Life Safety Initiative, the Executive Office of Aging & Independence will give the facilities it oversees five business days from Monday to outline all fire safety protocols, including details on evacuations, and people to contact with concerns or questions for residents and families in a letter. The evacuation instructions will also have to be placed inside residents’ units and common areas.

Facilities will have to reaffirm within 30 days that they are in compliance with fire safety requirements like hosting fire drills and using sprinkler systems, and they’ll have to submit their Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Plan for each site.

By requiring clear communication with residents and detailed reporting to the state, we are making sure resident safety is front and center – today and every day,” Aging & Independence Secretary Robin Lipson said in a statement. “Our entire team is committed to strengthening emergency readiness and improving standards across the assisted living sector in Massachusetts.”

New Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the initiative is “is about ensuring every building has the resources, knowledge and support they need to keep residents safe in the event of an emergency.”

The Healey administration shared statements from the heads of three organizations, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, LeadingAge and Mass Senior Care Association, who committed to learn from the what happened in Fall River and the findings of the association.

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“Our condolences and sympathies are with the residents, families, and staff members who have been affected during this incredibly difficult time. Mass-ALA is committed to learning from the findings of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s investigation and actions to prevent another tragedy like the fire and loss of life that happened in Fall River,” Massachusetts Assisted Living Association President and CEO Brian Doherty said.



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Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”

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Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”


It was a treacherous commute for drivers across Massachusetts Wednesday morning. Ice on roads and highways caused several crashes during rush hour.

In Danvers, 22 miles north of Boston, the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars. Three people were taken to local hospitals.

In Danvers, Mass. the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars on March 4, 2026.

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In Revere, just seven miles north of the city, two tractor-trailers collided on North Shore Road. Police said it will be shut down for most of the day. It’s unclear if this crash was caused by icy conditions.

Forty-four miles west of Boston, a tractor-trailer ran off the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westboro. One person was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with what were described by the fire department as “non-life threatening injuries.”

The ice wasn’t just a problem for drivers. People walking around Boston were also slipping and sliding Wednesday morning.

“I almost fell at least five times but I didn’t. I don’t know how. I screamed and caught edges,” Swapna Vantzelfde told CBS News Boston about her walk to work in the South End. It took longer than usual.

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“The internal streets they just don’t get plowed, the little ones that people live on and then these arteries, the big streets, they’re cleaned a lot better,” she said.

Those on two legs and four were all stepping gingerly across slick spots.

“A little treacherous. Very slick and icy out here,” said a father pushing a stroller. “Sometimes you have something to hold on to, which helps.”

With plenty of snow piled along sidewalks and between parking spots, most people are done with winter.

“I’m over it. I’m ready for the thaw,” said one man. 

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran


Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.

The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.

Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.

“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”

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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.

“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”

Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.

At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.

“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.

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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.

The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.

Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.

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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”

With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.



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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


Happy Tuesday! While today started off dry, we’re already looking at snow out there across the area. While this event will primarily stay as rain on the Cape and islands, it will be an icy mix of snow, ice and rain for the rest of us.

The rain/snow line will continue to advance from the south to the north as the evening progresses. Before the changeover, there will be a quick coating to 2 inches for most of our area.

The threshold between the snow and rain will feature sleet and freezing rain, leading to that icing.

For the rest of the night, there will primarily be rain with continued pockets of freezing rain, leading to increasing spotty ice accretion. Be extremely careful on roads, especially since switching between rain and freezing rain can wash off any road salt.

The rain and freezing rain will exit by 6 a.m. Wednesday, but temperatures will still be close to freezing during the morning commute, so watch out for some spotty black ice.

The rest of Wednesday will be really nice! Highs will warm up to the mid 50s with the help of ample sun.

Thursday we start off in the mid 20s and top off in the mid 40s. We’ll be partly sunny with another chance for some wintry weather Thursday night. This primarily looks like some rain and freezing rain, rather than the triple threat with snow too. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.

That will continue into Friday morning. The rest of Friday: cloudy with a chance for a spot shower and highs cooler again in the upper 30s. Saturday will be dry, breezy and cloudy but gorgeous near 50 degrees! There’s a chance for some rain showers Saturday night. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you to go bed!

Sunday we start the day mild in the 40s and make it all the way into the upper 50s with more sun. Monday and Tuesday both look bright and in the 60s! Stay tuned.

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