PORT ST. JOE, Florida — A father of two is dead after a cooking fire tore through his apartment while he was asleep, leaving his young children fighting for their lives and a community heartbroken.
The tragic incident unfolded on the morning of Saturday, May 30, at the Pine Ridge Apartments in Gulf County.
Walter Bowers III, 34, had left a pot of oil heating on the stove while getting ready to cook chicken wings. Officials say it appears he fell asleep before he could return to the kitchen.
Officers Walked Into Floor-to-Ceiling Smoke
When Port St. Joe Police Department officers arrived, they were met with heavy smoke pouring from the apartment.
Near the rear door, they found one child who was barely breathing. Officers pulled the child outside and immediately began first aid.
But there were still people inside.
Despite floor-to-ceiling smoke and zero visibility, first responders went back in.
They located a second child and Bowers himself. All three — a father and his two young kids — were rushed to separate hospitals in critical condition.
The Children Pulled Through
The following day, May 31, police shared an update that stopped many people mid-scroll.
The children — described as being around 5 and 10 years old — were “recovering so fast” and were already “awake and playing.”
Walter Bowers III did not survive. He was declared dead on June 1.
A Family Left Shattered
In a statement shared by police, Bowers’ family described him as a man whose love reached everyone around him.
Known affectionately as “Boug,” he was called “a beloved son, father, brother, grandson, nephew, brother-in-law, and friend whose love, strength, and presence touched countless lives.”
“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 family said.
His mother, Tammy, is trying to find light in the darkness.
“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.
First Responders Knew Him Personally
The tragedy hit the first responders especially hard.
Two of the officers who rushed into that smoke-filled apartment were high school classmates of Bowers.
“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,” said Port St. Joe police officer Caleb Kesterson.
Those who knew Bowers remembered him as a “class clown” with a genuinely big heart.
A Community Coming Together
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Bowers’ family and his two children as they navigate the road ahead.
The Port St. Joe Police Department and Fire Department responded to the scene. The investigation into the fire is ongoing.
Kitchen fires remain one of the leading causes of home fire deaths in the United States. Safety experts consistently advise never leaving the stove unattended while cooking with oil.
This story is a reminder of how quickly everything can change — and how much a community loses when one of its own is gone too soon.
If you knew Walter Bowers or want to share a message for his children and family, leave a comment below. Let them know they are not alone.
