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This blog is dedicated to the efforts to provide help and support to the members of the Bryan Fire Department and their families who were affected by the tragic events on 2/15/2013.

Source: KBTX /Gray Media

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On 2/15/2013 Bryan Fire Department responded to reports of a structure fire at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Grosebeck Street in Bryan, TX. During the initial attack Lt. Eric Wallace became separated from his firefighter. His firefighter managed to make it out of the structure but Lt. Wallace remained inside. A RIT team lead by Lt. Greg Pickard were sent inside to rescue Lt. Wallace. All three members of the RIT team suffered severe burns in the process of removing Lt. Wallace. Lt. Wallace was pronounced dead after arriving at St. Joseph hospital in Bryan. Lt. Pickard, FF Rickey Matney, and FF Mitch Moran were transported to St. Joseph and later to The University of Texas Medical Branch hospital in Galveston via helicopter. The following afternoon Lt. Pickard succumbed to his wounds. FF Mantey and FF Moran are both currently in the burn unit at UTMB recovering from severe burns.

The care package effort was hatched by friends and fellow firefighters from the Brazos Valley community who wish to do something special to help Ricky, Mitch, and their families during their long road to recovery. We are asking the firefighter community around the world to show their support for these two heros by providing them each a challenge coin or patch from your department.

Currently this effort is being headed by:
FF/EMT Andrew Jarrett (South Brazos County Fire Department)
LT/Paramedic Chris Framsted (South Brazos County Fire Department)
FF/EMT Joe Fairchild (Brazos County Precinct 4 Fire Department)
EMT Jolene Long (St. Joseph Region EMS)
Fire Chief Merrie Noak (Brazos County District 2 Fire Department)
FF/Paramedic Cody Blount (College Station Fire Department and South Brazos County Fire Department)

And supported by numerous other emergency responders and community members throughout the Brazos Valley and the country at large who are making this effort possible with their contributions. If you wish to contribute or get involved please email andrew.jarrett@ncr.com

About The Care Package Project:

• At this time we are collecting patches, shirts, hats, and challenge coins to send to our brothers currently recovering at the UTMB Burn Unit in Galveston, TX. Through this effort we hope to surround our injured brothers with visual reminders of the thoughts and prayers of fire,ems, and police professionals around the country who wish to show support as they begin the long journey to recovery.

• For T-shirts, Ricky wears a large and Mitch wears an XL

• There are about 20 friends and family members who are camped out at UTMB as well, we will be providing them with snacks and other donations as well.
• At this time we are also trying to provide two tablets or netbooks to give to the guys when they are feeling better for entertainment and to better communicate with friends and loved ones.

• We are accepting any other donations from the community at large such as gift cards, get well cards, letters, and frequent flyer miles for the family members.

Items will be delivered after Mitch and Ricky have had an opportunity to recover from their wounds and no longer require isolation in the burn unit. 

Care package items can be sent to:

FF/EMT Andrew Jarrett
PO Box 11047
College Station, TX 77845

or

Dropped off in person to
FF/Paramedic Cody Blount
College Station Fire Department, Station #6
600 University Drive E. College Station, TX 77840


Members of local fire departments will deliver care package items to our injured comrades for as long as we continue to receive them. If you have any questions please feel free to email andrew.jarrett@ncr.com.

Other Charitable Events:

Cash donations are currently being accepted at Wells Fargo in Bryan, TX under the Bryan Firefighters relief fund.

A collection of family members of Bryan Firefighters and community members are cooking and catering meals for the Bryan Firefighters this week. If you would like to contribute please go to their facebook group.


Current information about the fire investigation, funeral and memorial arrangements for the fallen, and the conditions of the injured can be found at www.kbtx.com or https://www.facebook.com/BryanFireDept?fref=ts

Heather Craft is donating 100% of the proceedes from her Thirty-One Gifts this month to the Bryan Firefighters Relief Fund http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E2782587&from=DIRECTLINK

If you are aware of a charity or fundraising project for Bryan Fire Department and wish to have information listed here please email andrew.jarrett@ncr.com or leave a comment below.

Thank you all for your support!


*this page authored by local volunteers. The information and opinions published here are not authorized or endorsed by the City of Bryan or any other department or agency.

Updates.

2/20: It's been a tough week emotionally for all of us, the worst is probably yet to come. Stay strong.

FF/EMT Joe Fairchild called me last night with a really good idea, we'd like to get some money together to buy the guys in the hospital 2 tablets or something similar that they can use for entertainment and better communications while they are down there. If anyone would like to donate please contact us.

2/19: We've received word from UTMB that Ricky and Mitch have both gotten up and walked for the first time! This is a major milestone in their recovery!

At this time we are expanding to accept extra patches for a memorial quilt that will be made for the Bryan Fire Department.


2/18:
I have received updates on Mitch's condition, he has been disconnected from the ventilator and is being observed, if he is able to breath effectively on his own the doctors plan to remove the ET tube shortly.


A public memorial service honoring fallen Bryan Fire Department Lieutenants Greg Pickard and Eric Wallace will be held Wednesday, February 20, at 10 a.m. at Central Baptist Church located at 1991 Farm to Market Road 158, College Station, Texas 77845.

Details regarding logistics for this event are as follows.

Apparatus from visiting fire departments will stage at the Bryan Target Shopping Center parking lot located at the intersection of State Highway 6 (Earl Rudder Freeway) and Briarcrest Drive no later than 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. The actual physical address of the Target store is 3061 Wildflower, Bryan, Texas 77802. A tent and a Bryan fire apparatus will mark the gathering site in the parking lot. From there, apparatus will move to the procession area along Boonville Road at 7:00 a.m.

All fire, police and public safety personnel, along with dignitaries participating in the walking procession, should park their personal vehicles at Momentum Plaza located at One Momentum Boulevard in College Station, Texas 77845. From there, these officials will be shuttled to the rally point. Shuttles begin running at 6:00 a.m. After the service, shuttles will then return these individuals from the church to the parking area at Momentum Plaza.

The staging area for those participating in the walking procession will be at the intersection of FM 60 (University Drive) and Boonville Road. The procession will begin its walk to the church at 8:00 a.m. The procession will be led by the Bryan Fire Department. Federal, state and local dignitaries will follow as well as emergency response personnel from all over the U.S. and Canada. Dignitaries who cannot physically participate in the walking procession will be provided with parking passes.

The general public will park at Veterans Park, 3101 Harvey Road, College Station, Texas 77845. From there, busses will transport the public to and from the church. Shuttle busses will run from 8:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. and will return to the parking area after the memorial service is concluded.

Boonville Road/FM 158 will be closed from Pendleton Drive to Elmo Weedon Road from 5:00 a.m. until after the memorial service is completed. The intersection of FM 60 (University Drive) and Boonville Road/FM 158 will be closed during the same time frame.

Governor Rick Perry has ordered all national and state flags on state agency and political subdivision buildings in Bryan and the surrounding area lowered to half-staff until sunset Friday to honor the lives and service of Lt. Pickard and Lt. Wallace. Businesses may also lower their flags.




2/17:
I was honored today to personally collect the first donation of challenge coins, patches, and hats from PHI Air Med 12. Other local departments have pledged contribute items as well. I've also received word from as far away as California that other stuff is in the mail. I am truly in awe at how quickly this has all come together, and the massive outpouring of help and concern from or local community and beyond.

I would like to take a moment to give a special thanks to the Galveston Fire Department. They have gone above and beyond to show hospitality and caring to the friends and family members of Mitch and Ricky who are camped out at UTMB. I hope to have the opportunity to meet and shake the hands of those who made this happen when we make our trips to present gifts to our brothers in the coming weeks.


-AJ