The owner of the Gabriel House in Fall River said in a statement Friday that his focus remains on the families who lost loved ones in a fire at the assisted living facility.

“The last two weeks have been the most difficult I’ve ever known, not because of whatever I have experienced, but rather, because of the knowledge that ten families who were part of the Gabriel House community have suffered unimaginable pain and the ultimate loss,” said owner Dennis Etzkorn.

A preliminary investigation shows an oxygen tank malfunction or smoking may have caused the deadly Fall River assisted living facility fire that claimed the lives of 10 last week. They died of injuries caused by the fire on the night of Sunday, July 13, which was the deadliest fire in Massachusetts in over 40 years. Over 30 residents were injured in the blaze. Seventy occupants were housed in the three-story facility.

“We are heartbroken for them,” Etzkorn told the Herald in a statement. “My sole concerns, and only responsibilities, continue to be helping authorities determine all the facts and circumstances of this tragedy, as well as establishing a system to help these families recover their loved ones’ possessions.

“We anticipate that the return of personal possessions to family members will be completed by the end of next week,” he added. A”ll that matters right now is getting to the bottom of why this happened and helping our residents’ loved ones in this darkest of times. Those dual tasks will remain my only priorities to the exclusion of all else.”