Bryan Fire Chief Randy McGregor met with reporters Sunday morning, approximately 36 hours after responding to a building fire that led to the deaths of two firemen and sent two other firefighters to the burn center in Galveston.
Among McGregor’s opening comments during the 35 minute meeting (which you can hear below), he said “This is our darkest hour in the 142 years this organization has been in existence.”
“At this point, our focus is on the families affected directly. We’re making sure they are taken care of in every regard.”
“We have a long road of ahead of us. While we have lost two members, we still have two who have a long road ahead of them in healing.”
McGregor shared experiences he had with the firemen who died, Lt. Eric Wallace and Lt. Greg Pickard, and the firemen who remain hospitalized, Firefighter Ricky Mantey Jr. and Probationary Firefighter Mitch Moran.
McGregor says Mantey and Moran remain in stable condition and doctors remain optmisic about their recovery.
The chief said upon hearing the death of Wallace, “I can’t describe to you what went through this organization. The passing of Lt. Wallace just completely overwhelmed us. And with the passing of Lt. Pickard it just came down upon us again.”
“I can promise you this, the men and women of the Bryan Fire Department are as strong as they come. We are a very strong family. And through that strength and our faith in God we will get through this.”
In closing, McGregor asked of “the media, city staff, and members of the local community is that you pray. Pray for our families, the ones directly affected, the losses we’ve already experienced. Pray for those with the long road ahead. And ask that you pray for our members still answering those calls. This kind of event will affect for the rest of our lives, for the rest of our careers. It will forever change us in many regards. But it will strengthen us.”
On multiple occasions, McGregor thanked fire departments locally and statewide as well as City of Bryan employees and the city council.
As to the cause of the fire and what led to the firemen’s deaths and injuries, McGregor says there have been rumors and speculation. He says they have an idea of what went on, but nothing official has been issued. McGregor said the state fire marshal’s report could take six months to complete.
Bryan Fire Chief Randy McGregor addresses reporters February 17, 2013.