The one-page inspection report released Thursday morning showed the Gabriel House also had an adequate number of fire extinguishers, along with alarms for heat, smoke, and carbon monoxide. The inspection noted the facility had generally good housekeeping, with nothing blocking exits or stairways.

Jeffrey Bacon said the fire was "destined to kill" more than 50 people, but heroic acts limited the tragic loss of life.

You could have had 100 firefighters show up on that scene and it wouldn’t have been enough,” the fire chief said at a news briefing outside the fire department’s headquarters Tuesday.

Gabriel House had seen better days. But for residents and their families, it was the center of a caring community.