Florida father of 3 dies after a pot of oil left on the stove sparks an apartment fire, his two young children survive

A Florida father has died after a cooking fire broke out in his apartment while he was inside with two of his young children, but luckily, the two children survived, according to People.

The incident took place on the morning of May 30 at the Pine Ridge Apartments in Gulf County, Florida, according to a media release from the Port St. Joe Police Department. The children’s father, Walter Bowers III, 34, was declared dead on June 1, per a statement from his family shared by the department.

Port St. Joe Chief of Police Jake Richards said the fire was accidental, per WJHG. According to Richards, a pot of oil left on the stove, in preparation for chicken wings, caught fire. Officials said it appeared as though Bowers had fallen asleep while getting ready to cook.

First responders rescued the children and their father from floor-to-ceiling smoke with zero visibility

According to the Port St. Joe Police Department, Officer Caleb Kesterson arrived to find heavy smoke throughout the apartment. Kesterson said, he located one child near the rear door who was barely breathing, removed the child from the apartment, and began providing first aid until EMS arrived.

First responders then re-entered the apartment despite what the department described as “floor-to-ceiling smoke with zero visibility.” Working together, Officer Kesterson, Sergeant Richard Nichols, and Port St. Joe firefighters located and removed a second child and Bowers from inside the residence, per WJHG.

Port St. Joe police Sgt. Richard Nichols said conditions inside were among the worst he had seen. “It was the worst conditions ever; a couple of the firefighters even collapsed,” Nichols said. Chief Richards said first responders had fully expected all three to die. “When we first found out this happened, we actually fully expected three deaths in this case,” Richards said.

Neighbors also played a role in the rescue, according to WJHG. Officer Kesterson described two women from the building who helped pull one of the children out. “Two women, two neighbors, crazy brave people, were able to pull the child out and hand him to me. So without their help, who knows,” Kesterson said. Cooking-related fires have led to dangerous and unexpected outcomes in other recent incidents as well.

All three were transported to local hospitals in critical condition, per the police department. The following day, on May 31, police said the two children, aged approximately 5 and 10, were “recovering so fast” and were “awake and playing,” Bowers, however, did not survive. His mother, Tammy Bowers, confirmed to WJHG that he died Wednesday night, June 1.

The community remembered Walter Bowers as a man with a big heart

Kesterson and Nichols both apparently knew Bowers personally, having gone to high school with him. “It’s hard cause I look back and think about how we used to sit next to each other in high school; it’s a heavy hit,” Kesterson told WJHG. His friends reportedly described him as the “class clown,” the “jock,” and someone with a big heart.

Tammy Bowers told WJHG that while she lost her son, she finds comfort in knowing her grandchildren survived. “My son did unfortunately pass away, but my two grandchildren, who were also involved in this tragedy, on the bright side, are healthy and happy,” she said. She also expressed gratitude toward the community for its support. “I am so blessed to have such a wonderful community that has reached out in many ways, all the many prayers, all the support; it’s just beyond words,” she said. Children who survive severe fire injuries have, in some cases, gone on to achieve remarkable things later in life.

In the statement, Kimberly Bowers described Walter, known affectionately as “Boug,” as “a beloved son, father, brother, grandson, nephew, brother-in-law, and friend whose love, strength, and presence touched countless lives.” The family asked the public to keep their children and the entire family in their thoughts and prayers. “As we continue to support his children through this unimaginable loss, we ask that you keep them and our entire family in your thoughts and prayers,” the statement read.