At a press conference Tuesday, July 15, outside FRFD headquarters, Bacon said the city has typically relied on overtime for coverage in the event of a crisis -- but in an event like the Gabriel House “you can never have enough staff,” and that he is primarily focused on the lives that were saved.

As flames tore through a Fall River assisted living residence Sunday night, nearly 50 firefighters rushed to rescue the vulnerable population calling for help from their windows. The fire killed nine residents and injured 30 at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence.