Eastland fire crews lost of one of their own Friday when firefighter Gregory M. Simmons, died during the battle to contain a 3,000 acre blaze near Gorman.
Neugebauer visited the Simmons family in Eastland on Saturday.
“It is a solemn reminder that our first responders are putting their lives on the line every day,” Neugebauer said. “Mr. Simmons paid the ultimate price for his community service.”
Simmons and other firefighters fled their truck as it was being overrun by flames, and Simmons fell into a ditch, said Justice of the Peace James King, who pronounced Simmons dead at the scene along a rural road.
On Saturday, Department of Public Safety Trooper Sparky Dean reported that Simmons’ death is being investigated as a traffic fatality. A preliminary autopsy stated the cause of his death as blunt force trauma.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Leon River Cowboy Church in Olden.
Five firefighters and one civilian also were injured in Eastland County fires Friday. One firefighter was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas with second- and third-degree burns on his hands and face. Another firefighter remains hospitalized in Eastland, with second- and third-degree burns and the effects of smoke inhalation.
