Central Texas Fire Kills Two Firefighters

Two Firefighters die, Two others injured in Central Texas fire

Two Texas fire lieutenants have died of burns after battling a lodge hall fire.

A spokeswoman for the Central Texas city of Bryan confirmed the deaths of 54-year-old Greg Pickard and 36-year-old Eric Wallace. Mary Lynne Stratta says Pickard died Saturday in a Galveston hospital and Wallace at the scene.

Stratta says the firefighters entered the burning Knights of Columbus hall in Bryan about midnight Friday, but didn't emerge when ordered to evacuate.

She says two firefighters taken to the Galveston hospital for burns, Ricky Mantey Jr. and Mitchel Moran, are both in serious but stable condition.

Bryan is 90 miles northwest of Houston.

The Texas State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.   

City officials say nothing was occurring at the hall at the time.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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