A mobile home fire in Quinlan, Hunt County, on March 5, 2025, resulted in the deaths of three individuals: 66-year-old Johnny Rowe Bedwell, 63-year-old Ronnie W. Fowler, and 34-year-old Brent Bedwell, son of Johnny Rowe Bedwell. Ronnie Fowler was a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA).
The Quinlan Fire Department's handling of the fire is now under scrutiny from neighboring fire departments and the community according to a recent report by WFAA.
Tawokoni South Fire Chief David Rutherford, one of the first firefighters on the scene, alleges he was ordered not to enter the mobile home by Quinlan Fire Department officials, who deemed the building "fully involved and too dangerous." Rutherford disagrees, stating that the structure was not too dangerous to enter during the initial 30-38 minutes of the fire.
Lone Oak Fire Chief Robert Whitehead has requested that the Hunt County Commissioner's Court investigate the fire department's response. The Hunt County Fire Marshal is also investigating the cause of the fire and the response. Quinlan Fire Chief Brian Collinsworth has declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.
Julie Bedwell, mother of Brent Bedwell and ex-wife of Johnny Rowe Bedwell, is demanding answers. She claims her son was located near a door where firefighters could have entered.
The Quinlan Fire Department has faced prior challenges, including a 2021 probation period imposed by Hunt County Commissioners for failing to meet call response standards. The city of Quinlan also canceled its contract with the department in October 2021.
Chief Rutherford has called for the department to be disbanded, citing "one mistake too many." Chief Collinsworth maintains that the department has made significant progress and improved its call response times.
Julie Bedwell is seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding her son's death, stating, "It's just not fair, I keep asking why." She believes her son might have survived if firefighters had entered the mobile home sooner.
The Hunt County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire and the response to it. Quinlan Fire Chief Brian Collinsworth said he couldn't comment due to the ongoing investigation.
