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Updated: LODD X 2 – Texas

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Trapped Under Roof Collapse

Update:  2nd Firefighter dies from injuries.  Scroll down.

A BRYAN, TEXAS, FIRE LIEUTENANT ERIC WALLACE. 36, perished early this morning at a commercial fire when the roof collapsed, trapping him and seriously burning three other firefighters.  The accident happened around midnight while Lt. Wallace and another firefighter were doing a primary search (unconfirmed) and the roof came down.  The other FF was able to escape, but Wallace was trapped under the debris.

An R.I.T. of three went in to attempt to rescue the lieutenant, but the heat and flames were so intense that they were stymied and severely burned.  A second RIT was then sent in and they were able to reach the downed firefighter, but too late.  They were able to bring him out.

KVUE-TV

The three burned FF's were Lt. Greg Pickard, 54; Firefighter Ricky Mantey Jr., 30; and Probationary Firefighter Mitch Moran, 21. They were taken by helicopter from the scene to medical facilities for treatment of burns.  Wallace had been a member of the department for 13 years. He is survived by his wife, Brandi, and five children. Pickard served with the department for 32 years. Mantey had been with the department for five years, and Moran for 10 months.

Update, 6 pm Central:  2nd Firefighter dies.
KTRK-TV and other sources are reporting that Fire Lt. Gregory Pickard, 54, died between 4:30pm and 5:30pm Central at UTMB in Galveston due to burn wounds and smoke inhalation.  Lt. Pickard was leading the R.I.T. that first attempted to reach Lt. Wallace.

Lt. Greg Pickard

The fire was discovered by a passerby around 11:30 pm and the first-in units found fire showing.  The building, which was not occupied at the time, was a Kinghts of Columbus hall that did not have any activites scheduled for last night.  As you might expect, any new information will be closely held until the investigation is completed.

KTRK-TV

FirefighterNation has more details and four videos including raw fire footage HERE.

KTRK-TV Ch. 13 Houston prepared this video report:

 

The news release issued by the City of Bryan is HERE.

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Posted by on February 16, 2013 • Filed under: fire, Fires, Line of Duty, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

Another Stolen Ambulance

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Driving-Challenged Thief Taken Into Custody

A CAREER CRIMINAL IN BRYAN, TEXAS, began a sequence of events Monday that ended up with him driving and crashing an ambulance that he stole during his attempted flight from police.

KBTX-TV

Coty Joe Lohse, 28, began his bad day by shoplifing an undisclosed item from a beauty supply store in Bryan and triggered the theft-alarm device.  From there his event-filled flight from justice began.  The College Station Police Department reported the subsequent actions in a press release:

Bryan Police Department advised that the suspect shoplifted from the Q Beauty at 506 N. Texas Avenue. As he fled the store, the suspect set off the theft detection system. It is unknown what was taken. The suspect then went to CARQUEST at 410 N. Texas Avenue and stole a CARQUEST delivery car from their parking lot that had the keys in it.

As the suspect was driving the stolen vehicle, he hit another vehicle at W. Villa Maria Road and Wellborn Road and fled the scene of the accident. A witness followed until the suspect was involved in a second crash at Jones Butler Road and Harvey Mitchell Parkway South.

College Station Fire Department arrived at Jones Butler Road and Harvey Mitchell Parkway South and began checking the drivers for injuries. Before officers arrived on scene, the suspect entered and stole the ambulance, driving toward Holleman Drive.

As the suspect was fleeing the area, he drove through the drive-thru of McDonald’s at George Bush Drive and Marion Pugh Drive, striking a concrete pillar resulting in a third crash. Officers searched the area and the ambulance was located at the intersection of Holleman Drive and Carolina Street. The suspect was then taken into custody without incident at that location. Non-incapacitating injuries were reported.

The Bryan-College Station Eagle adds:  Lohse has been arrested multiple times since 2010, including two times this month, once on a public intoxication charge and once on charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Posted by on November 27, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , , ,