Florida Father Dies in Apartment Fire; Two Children Survive After Pot of Oil Ignites

On the morning of May 30, 2024, a fire started in the Pine Ridge Apartments, Gulf County, Florida, after a pot of oil left on a stove ignited while Walter Bowers III, 34, prepared chicken wings. Bowers, his two children (ages 5 and 10), and the apartment filled with “floor-to-ceiling smoke with zero visibility.” First-responders rescued the children; Bowers was pronounced dead on June 1.

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• May 30, 2024 – Oil-filled pot ignites; smoke fills apartment; emergency crews dispatched.

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• Later that day – Officers Caleb Kesterson and Sgt. Richard Nichols, with firefighters, remove the children and Bowers from the smoke-filled unit.

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• May 31, 2024 – Police report the children “recovering so fast,” awake and playing.

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• June 1, 2024 – Walter Bowers III is declared deceased.

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Port St. Joe Police officers Caleb Kesterson and Sgt. Richard Nichols led the interior rescue; Chief Jake Richards oversaw the response. Port St. Joe firefighters entered despite “floor-to-ceiling smoke,” with some collapsing. Two neighboring women helped pull a child to safety and handed the child to Officer Kesterson. The combined effort of law enforcement, fire personnel, and neighbors prevented a total fatality.

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Chief Jake Richards said the blaze was accidental and initially expected three deaths because of the dense smoke. Sgt. Richard Nichols described the interior as the worst he had seen, noting firefighter collapses. Officer Kesterson, who knew Bowers from high school, expressed personal grief. Tammy Bowers thanked the community for prayers and support, noting relief that her grandchildren survived.

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• “It was the worst conditions ever; a couple of the firefighters even collapsed,” — Sgt. Richard Nichols, Port St. Joe Police

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• “When we first found out this happened, we actually fully expected three deaths in this case,” — Chief Jake Richards, Port St. Joe Police

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• “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,” — Officer Caleb Kesterson, Port St. Joe Police

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• “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,” — Tammy Bowers, Mother of Walter Bowers III

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The fire highlights the danger of unattended cooking, a factor in recent residential fire incidents. The swift actions of police, firefighters, and neighbors averted a total loss of life, underscoring the value of community preparedness and coordinated emergency response. Officials may use the case to promote fire-safety education, especially regarding oil-based cooking and functional smoke detectors.

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The children, ages five and ten, remain hospitalized but are reported “awake and playing.” The family asks for continued prayers and community aid as they cope with Walter Bowers III’s death. Local fire-safety outreach is planned in the coming weeks.

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