"Houston motel and restaurant fire kills 4 firefighters; At least 5 people injured" by Mike Graczyk | Associated Press, June 01, 2013
HOUSTON — Four firefighters were killed while battling a fire that engulfed a Houston motel and restaurant on Friday, and at least five other people were hospitalized, authorities said.
Flames were shooting from the roof of the Southwest Inn, along one of Houston’s most heavily traveled expressways, and black smoke was blanketing the area as firefighters tried to extinguish the blaze....
The loss of life is the single worst in the history of the 116-year-old Houston Fire Department. When a flag-draped body was removed from the smoldering remains around 4 p.m., firefighters — working in swirling winds and temperatures exceeding 90 degrees — paused and saluted....
The blaze broke out just after noon Friday at a restaurant and club at the motel, then quickly spread to the section of the building housing the motel....
Front desk clerk Martha Lopez told the Houston Chronicle that a restaurant employee ran into the hotel saying a fire had started in the restaurant....
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