Phillip Wayne Dean, 29, a Fire Engineer in the Fort
Worth Fire Department, gave his life in the line of
duty while fighting a church fire in Lake Worth,
northwest of Fort Worth, on Monday, February 15,
1999.

Phillip graduated from Castleberry High School.  
His love for his work began in 1986 when he first
volunteered for the River Oaks Fire Department
where he was very active and  held the rank of
Captain.  Phillip graduated from the University of
Texas at Arlington with a degree in Criminal Justice.

Phillip graduated from the Fort Worth Fire
Academy in May 1994.  He served at Station 16
with Brian Collins previous to his recent promotion
to Engineer.  His coworkers remember his as
soft-spoken, hard-working and a kind friend to all.  
Though he only had five years experience, he was
a very knowledgeable firefighter.  He truly loved his
career, spending a great deal of time studying his
profession.  He had recently been assigned to
Station 15 as a paramedic for the fire department
hazardous materials team.

Phillip truly loved serving others.  Friends and
firefighters all recall how he would be the first to
help someone in need.  He was quick with a smile,
always upbeat and had a genuinely kind and
gentle manner.  He was greatly loved by those who
knew him and was well known for his integrity,
loyalty and compassion.

Phillip was a dedicated family man.  He married
Renea in 1994 and they were expecting their first
child the week of this tragedy.  Phillip had spent
that Monday morning preparing a room for his first
child.  Elijah Phillip was born on Saturday,
February 20, 1999 and is named for his father and
the prophet Elijah, who rode to heaven on a
chariot of fire.

Phillip taught a Sunday school class of ninth grade
boys and enjoyed singing and playing his guitar.

Phillip was a loving husband, father, son and
brother, and a dedicated community servant. He
will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten.
Brian William Collins, 35, a Lieutenant in the Fort
Worth Fire Department, gave his life in the line of
duty while fighting a church fire in Lake Worth,
northwest of Fort Worth, on Monday, February
15, 1999

Brian served 15 years with the Fort Worth Fire
Department and 19 years with the River Oaks
Volunteer Fire Department.  He was the first
certified emergency medical technician (EMT) on
the River Oaks Volunteer Fire Department at the
age of 19, acting on his own initiative, paying for
the course on his own.  He was qualified as a
master firefighter for Fort Worth through his
years of experience and specialized training.  He
was a 10-year veteran master sergeant with the
Air Force Reserve.  He was on the promotion list
for Fire Captain in the Fort Worth department.  

Brian earned an Associated Degree in Fire
Protection Technology from Tarrant County
Junior College and a Bachelors Degree in
Business Administration from Dallas Baptist
University.  Brian served at Station 16 in west
Fort Worth and is remembered as a practical
joker that could give and take a joke with the
best of them.  Brian also has a big heart and
would give you the shirt off his back.  He was a
dedicated family man.  Brian was a dedicated
Christian as well, teaching Sunday school to
pre-school age children.

Brian's true love was children, and he had an
interest in fire safety education.  He had served
as the fire safety coordinator for the Fort Worth
Fire Department and was instrumental in forming
the first group of "Firesafety Clowns" in 1995,
performing at area schools, churches, and
community activities.  Brian was the first
firesafety clown in the state and taught 'fire
clowning' to numerous other firefighters across
the state for the State Commission on Fire
Protection.

Brian married Mary Ray of Fort Worth in June 4,
1987.  Son Ryan, age 5, and daughter Hannah,
age 2 were the central elements of his life.  His
third child, Nathan, was born in June 1999.

Brian was a godly man, a loving husband, father,
son and brother and a dedicated community
servant.  He will be greatly missed by all that
were fortunate enough to have known him.
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