Name: William ‘Iron Bill’ Dowling
Rank: Captain
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 17
Date of Incident: 05/31/2013
Time of Incident: 1207hrs
Date of Death: 03/07/2017
Fire Department: Houston Fire Department
Address: 600 Jefferson, 7th Floor, Houston, TX 77002
Fire Department Chief: Samuel Peña
Incident Description: Captain William ‘Iron Bill’ Dowling passed away on March 7, 2017, from complications of the severe injuries suffered in the Southwest Inn fire on May 31, 2013, that killed four other Houston firefighters and seriously injured many more. The Southwest Inn fire is considered the deadliest day in Houston Fire Department history. In a statement, the Houston Fire Department said of Captain Dowling that “the incredible strength and bravery he showed as he and his family rebuilt his life – and theirs – after his injuries inspired us all. Please keep the Dowling family and all of the men and women of our fire department in your prayers.”
The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office has prepared a report on this incident. The report is available at https://www.tdi.texas.gov/reports/fire/documents/fmloddhouston2013.pdf
The NIOSH Firefighter Fatality and Prevention Program report on the incident may be found at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/pdfs/face201316.pdf
Incident Location: 6855 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77074
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