Released at 7:00 p.m.:
Houston’s fallen firefighters:
- Captain EMT Matthew Renaud, 35, of Engine 51.
- Engineer Operator EMT Robert Bebee, 41, of Station 51.
- Firefighter EMT Robert Garner, 29, of Station 68.
- Probationary Firefighter Anne Sullivan, 24, of Station 68.
The Houston Fire Department has never seen four firefighters pass away from the same incident in the history of the department.
Below is raw audio from the 5:00 press conference of Mayor Annise Parker and Fire Chief Terry Garrison. Mayor Parker: It is the worst day in HFD history.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Houston firefighters and their families. @cohoustonfire @HoustonOEM
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) May 31, 2013
The following statement was released by Jeff Caynon, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association:
“Houston firefighters mourn the loss of our three brothers and our sister and will forever honor their sacrifices. Our association and the International Association of Fire Fighters are monitoring the conditions of the six injured firefighters and will be assisting them and their families in every way possible. This tragedy underscores the inherent dangers of our profession. Please keep Houston firefighters in your thoughts and prayers.”
Firefighters lining up along Bellaire Blvd.~waiting for ambulances to drive fallen ff’s past #khou #hounews #houston pic.twitter.com/n9bv7oK18u
— Tiffany Craig (@KHOUTiffanyC) May 31, 2013
HPD is prepared to escort the bodies of the fallen fighters from the scene of the Southwest Inn. #KHOU #HouNews pic.twitter.com/ZGFzQ25H26
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) May 31, 2013
Roof collapse is what led to four HFD firefighter deaths, six injured. FFs thought there were people inside the building #HFDbrave
— Jessica Michan (@jessicamichan) May 31, 2013
Houston fire fighters are saluting the scene at the Southwest Houston fire. This is usually reserved for fallen comrades…
— Justin Concepcion (@JVConcep) May 31, 2013
Update at 4:20 p.m.: Janice Evans from the Mayor’s Office has confirmed that four fire fighters are dead and five are injured.
Medical examiner says 3 dead in Houston hotel fire; unclear if any are firefighters. We’re waiting on mayor to hold press briefing.
— George Haj (@georgehaj) May 31, 2013
Video of the ongoing 5 alarm fire
Update at 1:53 p.m.:
HOUSTON (AP) — At least four Houston firefighters have been injured — two of them critically — battling a five-alarm fire at a southwest Houston motel.
Fire Capt. Rudy Lozano says the injured firefighters have been taken to hospitals.
The blaze broke out just after noon Friday at a restaurant and club at the Southwest Inn on U.S. 59, one of Houston’s most heavily traveled expressways. Flames that spread to the motel part of the building were still shooting from the roof of the structure more than an hour later.
Temperatures in the low 90s and high humidity hampered firefighting efforts, and smoke from the fire snarled traffic on the expressway.
No cause for the blaze has been immediately announced.
Update at 1:33 p.m.:
Houston Fire Department is reporting they were dispatched to a building fire at 12:09 p.m. this afternoon. It appeared to have started in the Bhojan Restaurant.
Four firefighters have been transported to various hospital.
The fire was upgraded to a 5-alarm fire just after 1 p.m.
511 Fire – Southwest Fwy Ib – Hornwood Dr – http://t.co/Kapdm4BuyC #hounews
— HFD Multi Alarm (@hfdmulti) May 31, 2013
HOUSTON (AP) — Firefighters are battling a fire at a southwest Houston hotel.
Flames are shooting out from the roof of the Southwest Inn on Friday. Several fire trucks and emergency responders are working outside of the hotel.
The fire is causing traffic to be backed up in both directions on Southwest Freeway.
You can watch live coverage at KHOU Ch.11.
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