WHARTON, Texas --
The wife of a firefighter who was killed after he ran into a burning building shared her story of loss on Wednesday, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Capt. Thomas Araguz III, an 11-year veteran of the Wharton Fire Department, was killed while battling a massive blaze at Maxim Egg Farm in Boling, Texas, on Saturday.
Two other firefighters also ran into the building with Araguz, 30, and the three got trapped about 10 minutes later. The two others were able to escape, but Araguz did not.
Araguz's body was found in the rubble the next day.
Araguz's wife, Nikki, was out of town when she got the call about her husband not making it out of the building. She rushed home and found out he did not survive.
"I still can't believe it," Nikki Araguz said. "It's a horrible nightmare. I want him to come out of there. I want him to come home."
She watched as her husband's body arrived at the Wharton Funeral Home on Wednesday.
"He's supposed to be driving a fire truck, not riding on the back of a hearse," she said.
Araguz also left behind two young sons. The Wharton Fire Department has set up a trust for them at First State Bank under the name Thomas Araguz.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working with local and state agencies to determine the cause of the fire.
Officials said it had been more than 50 years since a Wharton firefighter was killed in the line of duty.
Maxim Production Company is an egg processing company and employs about 250 people. ATF officials said the company's loss was estimated to be worth $5 to $10 million.
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