Thirteen Fall River Police Officers Honored For Bravery In Nursing Home Fire Rescue

Thirteen police officers from Fall River, Massachusetts, have been honored with the state George L. Hanna Memorial Award for extraordinary bravery. 1420 WBSM, Boston 25 News, and the Fall River Reporter all reported that Governor Maura Healey presented the awards at the Massachusetts State House. The officers were recognized for their actions during a five-alarm fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility. [1][4][6]

According to 1420 WBSM, emergency responders were called to the facility at 261 Oliver Street at 9:38 p.m. on July 25, 2025. Officers from the Fall River Police Department and members of the Fall River Fire Department responded to the burning structure. WJAR noted that the blaze at Gabriel House was fatal. [1][5]

1420 WBSM reported that first responders entered the building while the fire was burning out of control to save trapped residents. The officers rescued more than 50 people during the incident. [1]

Other news outlets, including The Boston Globe, the Fall River Herald News, and the Fall River Reporter, reported that officers from several other departments across Massachusetts, including Boston, Everett, Burlington, and Holyoke, were also honored at the annual state ceremony. [2][3][6]