HOUSTON Cpt. Bill Dowling is awake and alert, but is still confined to a hospital bed with a long way to go after being severely injured in the devastating hotel fire May 31 in southwest Houston.
The five-alarm fire at the Southwest Inn injured half dozen responders and killed four Houston firefighters. It is said to be the most disastrous day in the history of the Houston Fire Department.
And for those survivors the much needed money is still coming in.
The 100 Club accepted another $50,000 donation Monday. To date, the 100 Club has taken in $817,000 in donations since the fire.
The organization has given out $916,000 to the firefighters and their families. Also, in a change of long-standing policy money was given to the families of the four fallen firefighters, even if they were not married or did not have any dependents.
We have given money to the families in this situation. We have three catastrophically injured firefighters, Ricky Hartley, with the 100 Club, said. All of the money that I ve just mentioned has gone for those various areas.
And private fundraisers are still happening; silent auction was held Sunday for Dowling, a hero who has been in the hospital and fighting for his life for the last three months.
Now a survivor is one day closer to finally going home. He suffered the amputation of both legs, but he is awake now and can recognize his wife and children.
Meanwhile, the 100 Club has given approximately $180,000 to the families of the four who died.
