BRYAN -
Two firefighters are dead and two others are seriously injured after a fire in Bryan over the weekend. A candlelit vigil was held Sunday night in honor of both fallen firefighters. Dozens of people from Bryan and College Station area turned out to Merrill Green Stadium to remember.
There will be a public memorial held for both fallen firefighters Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. at Central Baptist Church.
The fire broke out Friday, at the Knights of Columbus Hall around 11:00 p.m. on the 1500 block of Groesbeck Drive near downtown Bryan.
36 year-old fire Lt. Eric Wallace of Marlin, died in the blaze when a portion of the roof collapsed. He leaves behind a wife and five children. Lt.. Wallace was a nearly 13 year vet. Before moving to Bryan, Wallace also worked at Marlin Fire Department.
A funeral service for Wallace is scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church of Bryan. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Adams Funeral Home in Marlin.
The three other firefighters were flown by helicopter to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for treatment of burns. It was there that fire Lt.Gregory Pickard later succumbed to his injuries Saturday.
Pickard had been with the Bryan Fire Department for 32 years. He was a father of two and leaves behind three grandchildren. One of his children is a firefighter in College Station.
The two other injured firefighters have been identified as Ricky Mantey Jr., 30, and Mitch Moran, 21. They are recovering at UTMB in stable condition.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and has not been determined yet.
An account has been set up for the fallen and injured firefighters and their families. You can go to Wells Fargo and donate under the benefit donation to the Bryan Fire Department.
This is a developing story and we will continue to update as more information becomes available.
