"Whatever can be learned from this tragedy, from fire prevention to rescue perspectives, is of the utmost importance," writes one reader.

Survivors are speaking out after a fire at a Massachusetts assisted living facility killed nine people as staff and firefighters are being criticized for how they responded to the blaze.

Flames roared through an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, killing nine people and trapping residents inside, including some who leaned out of windows and screamed for help, authorities said Monday.

The Gabriel House assisted living facility did not perform fire drills or train workers in evacuation procedures and was also understaffed and poorly maintained, according to a current and former employee interviewed in the aftermath of the fatal fire there that killed nine residents.