HOUSTON – It has been 13 years since a five-alarm fire at the Southwest Inn in southwest Houston turned into one of the Houston Fire Department’s most devastating losses.
First responders were dispatched to the motel along the Southwest Freeway on May 31, 2013. At the scene, Houston Fire Capt. Bill “Iron Bill” Dowling believed several people were still inside, prompting a rescue push as flames spread through the building.
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That effort ended in tragedy when a portion of the structure gave way.
Four firefighters — Robert Bebee, Matthew Renaud, Anne Sullivan and Robert Garner — were killed that day. Capt. Dowling suffered severe injuries and later died in 2017. Thirteen other firefighters were hurt.
First moments at the scene
In a 2023 remembrance, KPRC 2 meteorologist and anchor Khambrel Marshall described spotting thick smoke while heading back toward the station with photojournalist Wendel Johnson and diverting toward the fire.
“Once we got closer, we saw it,” Marshall wrote. “The Southwest Inn Sports Bar was on fire. We made a quick U-turn at Bellaire and were the first media on the scene by about 10 minutes or more.”
Marshall said he began photographing firefighters preparing to enter the building — images that later carried a heavier meaning as word spread that firefighters were missing.
What the investigation uncovered
Investigators concluded the fire likely began in the attic area hours before the first call came in.
During the emergency, radio traffic became congested as teams tried to coordinate the search for firefighters inside. Investigators identified multiple contributing issues tied to the incident.
Capt. Bill Dowling’s injuries and later legal fight
Dowling survived but suffered catastrophic injuries. He underwent amputations and sustained a severe brain injury, and he later died in 2017.
Years later, Dowling’s widow, Jacki Dowling, filed a lawsuit against Motorola, alleging failures in the radio system contributed to delays and confusion as crews tried to communicate during the fire.
Changes after the fire
The Houston Fire Department made updates aimed at strengthening communications and improving how large incidents are managed, including technology intended to help commanders track assignments in real time.
A small memorial remains at the site — a row of red crosses bearing station numbers — honoring the firefighters who died in the Southwest Inn fire.