Thursday, 4:30 PM
Four dead in Fall River blaze
By David Abel and Brian R. Ballou
Globe Staff
FALL RIVER -- Four people were killed and 11 were injured tonight in a fire that tore through a three-story building where members of the city's Portuguese community were preparing for a feast, officials said.
The fast-moving three-alarm blaze began at about 7:30 p.m. at 228 County St. Fire officials are investigating whether the fire was caused by cooking for the large annual feast that the Our Lady of Light Society was planning for this weekend.
Onlookers described a shocking scene. By the time firefighters arrived, the building was fully engulfed in flames and several people were trapped inside.
"People were screaming, 'Please help, please help, open this door,' " and people were outside trying to open it, said Jonathan Farias, 21, who lives five houses from the scene. "A lady ran out screaming and crying, a lot of pain on her face, her arms and face were completely burned."
The four victims were found on the first floor, where the society has its offices and a prayer hall, said Mayor Edward Lambert, who was at the scene.
The injured were taken to area hospitals, and one was flown to a Boston hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available last night.
“It’s the worst fire since I’ve been mayor in the last 10 years," said Lambert. "Any fire with one fatality is a tragedy. This is something that’s going to rock the entire community."
Several hours after the fire, crowds of people were out on their balconies speculating on how many people died and asking what had happened. Emergency trucks lined both sides of the street, and yellow tape blocked off the street for half a block.
The building is in the densely populated Flint neighborhood, a formerly French section of Fall River where many immigrants live. Lambert said the annual feast is an elaborate affair that includes a traditional Portuguese meal and a procession to their church and that is a fundraiser for the society.
Fire Chief William Silvia, who said the cause is under investigation, said firefighters from Tiverton, Somerset, and Westport assisted at the scene.
“It’s pretty grim,” said City Councilor Raymond E. Hague, the chairman of the city’s public safety committee, who was on the scene last night. “It’s putrid. The smell of charred wood is in the air.”
