Two firefighters die in Bryan blaze

BRYAN, Texas (AP/KXAN) - Two Central Texas firefighters have now died of burns suffered as they fought a lodge hall fire.

A Bryan city spokeswoman says Bryan Fire Lt. Gregory Pickard died Saturday afternoon in a Galveston hospital of burns suffered as they fought a fire at a Knights of Columbus hall in Bryan. Killed at the scene was Bryan Fire Lt. Eric Wallace.

Bryan Fire Chief Randy McGregor said in a press conference at 6:00 a.m.on Saturday morning  that the State Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the incident to determine the cause of the fire. It is reported that no activities were occurring in the KC Hall when the fire was reported to 9-1-1. Since the cause of the fire is under investigation, details cannot be released at this time.

Firefighters Ricky Mantey Jr. and Mitchel Moran were taken to University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for treatment of burns. Bryan city spokeswoman Mary Stratta says both are in serious but stable condition.

Stratta said the team entered the burning building about midnight Friday but didn’t emerge when it was ordered evacuated. Wallace's body was brought to the Travis County Medical Examiner on Saturday morning with a full escort from the Austin Fire Department.

On Saturday, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin thanked the Bryan and College Station fire departments for their efforts to extinguish the fire at the Knights of Columbus Hall. They expressed condolences for those lost and injured in the Friday night fire.