Arson ruled in blaze that killed firefighter

Homicide investigators now probing death

09:48 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 6, 2004

From 11 News Staff Reports

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An act of arson triggered the fire that raced through a northwest Houston nightclub and claimed the life of a Houston firefighter, authorities announced.

KHOU-TV A nightclub blaze claimed the life of one Houston firefighter.

So the probe into the death of firefighter Kevin Kulow has now become a homicide investigation.

For three days, investigators have scoured the charred remains of the El Festival Ballroom in the 7600 block of Kempwood, trying to determine what caused the blaze. It was a race against the rain to find every clue before it was too late.

Houston Fire Department arson division chief investigator Roy Paul says, "We don't have any specific suspects but we have persons of interest."

Paul revealed that his team has solid proof the fire at the El Festival Ballroom that killed a firefighter was no accident. The details of what was used to set the fire were not released. "If we find persons who tell other people about how the fire originated," says Paul. "We can match it court."

Arson investigators used a specially trained dog that alerted federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents to at least one accelerate used to ignite the flames.

Investigators are not talking about why someone decided to torch the nightclub.

The ruling of arson is troublesome. "Those people responsible for this should receive the highest level of punishment state statutes provide," says Steve Williams with the Houston Professional Firefighters Association Local 341.

At the union hall firefighters heard of the news while preparing for the funeral of Kevin Kulow. The 32-year old wanted to fight fires from the time he was a small boy. His dream ended six months after joining the Houston Fire Department. He was still working through his probationary period.

Kulow was among a group of firefighters who entered the burning building to search for people witnesses thought might have been trapped inside. As the flames intensified, a commander ordered his firefighters to get out of the blazing building. Kulow apparently became disoriented, couldn’t find his way to the door and didn’t make it out. Two other firefighters were injured.

Arson investigators are unusually tight-lipped about the probe, but they say they now believe that a burned truck sitting next to the charred building had nothing to do with the fire’s origin.

Investigators say there are several witnesses who are cooperating.

While fire investigators look for suspects and interview witnesses, it will be up the Harris County District Attorney's office to decide if murder charges will be filed in this case.

A public memorial service will be held Wednesday morning for Kulow. It begins 11:30 at Second Baptist Church in the 6400 block of Woodway. Firefighters from Dallas and Austin are coming in to cover shifts so those who worked with Kulow can pay tribute to him.

There will be several street closures for the HFD memorial procession in honor of Kevin Kulow. At 8:00 a.m. the right westbound lane of Woodway from Chimney Rock to Augusta will be closed. Two westbound lanes of Woodway from Chimney Rock to Voss will be closed from 9 a.m. to 11:30. The left eastbound lane of Woodway will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Voss to Fountainview to accomodate fire apparatus parking. And from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 both northbound lanes of Voss will be closed from Woodway to the entrance of Second Baptist Chuch.

If you want to show your support for the fallen firefighter, you can view the memorial procession on Woodway from Augusta to Voss.

Private funeral services are set for Thursday in Sealy.