Firefighters in a rural Texas community are mourning the loss of a 74-year-old volunteer firefighter who was critically burned while battling a house fire Thursday, Jan. 27.

Walter Gass, a 12-year veteran of the Sealy Volunteer Fire Department, was pulled from the blaze by fellow firefighters. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

The Texas Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Officials said Gass was in good health for his age.