A fundraiser held for the survivors of the Gabriel House fire in Fall River raised over $100,000, according to
WJAR
. The outpouring of support comes as the death toll from the blaze rose to 10 on Friday.
The fire broke out at around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday
, July 13, at 261 Oliver St., drawing nearly 50 firefighters to the scene and leaving a vulnerable population calling for help from their windows.
Nine people were initially reported dead, with around 30 people hurt and several others displaced.
On Friday, Brenda Cropper, 66, a woman who has been in critical condition since the fire,
died after she was taken off life support
, her family said Friday, and District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III confirmed in a Saturday morning statement.
To help people affected by the fire, a fundraiser was held Friday night at the St. John’s Athletic Club on Rodman Street, WJAR reported. Hundreds of people attended the event and the lines to enter the club stretched around the block.
“The city is proving their heart tonight,” Maxine Mello of New Bedford told the media outlet. “I think a real demonstration of passion during a time that we live in.”
Multiple residents displaced by the Gabriel House fire were also among those in attendance.
“It’s unbelievable, unbelievable, I hope you never have to go through this,” Mike Pimentel, a victim of Sunday’s fire, told WJAR. “It was a very traumatic experience for all of us, but you put one foot. whether it’s a real one or not, in front of the other and you just keep moving.”
An event organizer told WJAR that over 600 people attended to help raise over $100,000.
