Jeffrey Scott Bowen

Asheville Fire Department units were dispatched to an automatic fire alarm activation reporting smoke on the 5th floor of a high rise medical office building. Arriving firefighters found a working fire in Suite 500 of the building. Additional fire department resources were requested. Captain Bowen was in command of Rescue 3, a unit assigned on the full structure fire dispatch. Captain Bowen and another firefighter were conducting a search of the 5th floor. Fire department operations were complicated by locked doors, extreme heat, low visibility, and difficulties with the building's standpipe system. Captain Bowen called a mayday when he and his firefighter were unable to exit the hazardous area. An additional alarm was called and a rapid intervention crew was deployed. Captain Bowen and his firefighter were not immediately located. Once located, Captain Bowen was removed from the building and provided with emergency medical treatment. Despite these efforts, he died as a result of smoke inhalation. The fire was determined to be incendiary, set by someone in Suite 500. Incident Location: 445 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC (USNG: 17S LV 5953 3841)