© Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle / © 2013 Houston ChronicleSmoke from a 4-alarm blaze at the Southwest Inn on Hornwood drifts over motorists traveling the inbound lane of 59, Friday, May 31, 2013, in Houston. Four firefighters were transported in critical condition, and one was with a knee injury.
The Fire Department released a statement on Friday evening identifying the fallen firefighters:
Capt. EMT Matthew Renaud, 35, of Station 51; EMT Robert Bebee, 41, of Station 51; EMT Robert Garner, 29, of Station 68; and Fire Station 68's Anne Sullivan, 24, a recent graduate of the Houston Fire Department Academy.
"The Houston Fire Department has never seen four firefighters pass away from the same incident in the history of the department," the statement says. "Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with not only those friends and family of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice today but also those who were injured and all members of our department."
Five firefighters were also reported injured, two critically, while fighting the blaze that broke out about 12:09 p.m. at Bhojan Restaurant at 6855 Southwest Freeway. It engulfed the neighboring Southwest Inn along the Southwest Freeway near Hornwood, according to the Houston Fire Department. The flames also burned a sports bar and disco.
The four were killed when a roof and wall collapsed on them, fire department officials said later Friday.
"This is the worst day of my entire life," said Executive Assistant Chief Rick Flanagan. "I could never fathom losing four comrades in one day."
He and other fire department officials were at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science, where the bodies of the firefighters were taken.
About 20 fire department vehicles, including ambulances and fire trucks with lights flashing, awaited them. Nearby, more than a dozen motorcycle officers with the Houston Police Department stood shoulder to shoulder.
Martha Lopez, the front desk clerk at the Southwest Inn said a restaurant employee ran into the hotel saying a fire had started in the restaurant. The two began knocking on doors and windows telling guests to get out of the hotel.
Lopez said the hotel can accommodate 100 guests and had 45 registered at the time of the fire.
Deric Smith said smoke and flames were quickly overtaking the hotel when he returned from filling out an apartment application.
He saw "three or four" firefighters on a roof spraying one of the buildings with a hose.
"Then, all I could see was the roof caving in and all the fire just shooting up," Smith said.
"When the roof caved in, I knew something had to have happened to those firemen," Smith said.
Smith said he lost all his belongings in the blaze, but his thoughts and prayers were with the firefighters.
"They came and tried to save our lives and they're the ones who ended up perishing in the end," he said. "To me, they're American heroes."
Natasha Mosley was in her room with her five children when someone banged on the door to warn her about the fire.
"Everybody ran out of the room and we watched the building catch fire," Mosley said.
"We didn't grab anything but we got the kids out," she said.
She saw four firefighters standing on a roof as she searches for her family's escape route.
Mosley said she glanced away for brief moment.
"A big fireball shot up and all of a sudden they weren't there," Mosley said.
It couldn't be confirmed if those were the firefighters who died.
Mosley said she began praying when she heard that the firefighters had been injured and said she was shocked after learning they had died.
"They came here to try and help us and get us out. But they ended up losing their lives. It's very said," she said.
Mike Glenn and Houston Chronicle photographer Cody Duty contributed to this story.
My fellow Americans, when you encounter a firefighter, tell THIS person 'Thank you for serving.' RIP heroes.