FALL RIVER, Mass. — 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. At least 30 people were hurt.

Firefighters responded to the Gabriel House facility in Fall River, about 50 miles south of Boston, around 9:50 p.m. Sunday and were met with heavy smoke and flames at the front of the building. The cause is under investigation, authorities said.

Lorraine Ferrara, one of 70 residents at the facility, awoke to a neighbor pounding on her door. She tried to make her way through the smoke in the hallway but retreated to her room as the sprinkler system shot hot water onto her back.

“It was filled with smoke,” she said. “I opened the window as far as I could, yelling ‘Help! Help! Second floor!’ ”

A firefighter broke the window and carried her down the ladder, she said.

“I really thought I was going to die,” she said. “I thought there was no way out.”

Others rescued were taken to hospitals. Jarren Oldrid described the scene as “pretty terrifying” as he tried to figure out if his 67-year-old father, Steven Oldrid, was safe. He found him at a hospital recovering from smoke inhalation.

Gabriel House opened in 1999 and has 100 units, according to Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence. Its website promotes studio apartments “for those seniors who cannot afford the high end of assisted living” as well as group adult foster care within walking distance of shopping, restaurants and churches.

Dennis Etzkorn, the facility’s owner, declined to comment Monday, but officials said he was cooperating with what Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon called “a very extensive investigation.”

About 50 firefighters responded to the scene, including 30 who were off-duty. Police also helped break down doors and carried about a dozen residents to safety. Five injured firefighters were released from the hospital Monday.

The Rev. Michael Racine, the city’s fire chaplain, spent the night blessing the bodies of the dead and trying to console survivors, families, staff members and firefighters. “Nobody in that department has seen what we saw last night. Nobody,” he said.

Joe Alves, who lives several houses down from the facility, said he saw officials pulling bodies, people in wheelchairs and injured pets out of the building, with some pouring water bottles on burns.

“It was terrible,” he said, choking up slightly.

Several residents praised police and firefighters for rescue efforts but said staff members did little to help.

“They didn’t knock on one door,” Robert Cabral said. “They just ran.”

Every assisted-living facility has to meet state building and fire codes, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs. Facilities must have adequate staff to respond to emergencies and evacuation plans, according to a department list of state certification procedures and standards.