2 firefighters die, 2 injured in lodge fire in Texas

Two firefighters died and two others were seriously burned while battling a fire in the U.S. state of Texas, the authorities said Saturday. Eric Wallace and Greg Pickard, both fire department lieutenants in the central Texas city of Bryan, died fighting the fire that engulfed a lodge Friday night, said Mary Lynne Stratta, the spokeswoman for the city. Bryan Fire Chief Randy McGregor announced the death of 54-year-old Pickard on Saturday from the injuries he sustained during the Knights of Columbus Hall fire. Pickard, a 32-year veteran of the department, reportedly died in the burn unit of a local hospital. Wallace, 36, died at the scene during the fire, according to a news release issued earlier by the city of Bryan. Two other firefighters were in serious but stable condition, officials said. Wallace was among the first firefighters that rushed into the burning lodge near College Station, Texas. When Wallace reported that he was low on oxygen via his radio, Pickard and two other firefighters rushed in to rescue him. But all of them were overwhelmed by the smoke. Another team of firefighters went in to pull the four out, according to local media reports. An investigation was launched into the cause of the fire.