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Phillip Dean, a firefighter and Sunday school teacher, was looking forward to the birth of his first child this week.

Brian Collins, who taught children about fire safety, was a father of two, with his wife due to deliver a third this summer. Gary Sanders learned everything he could about firefighting, and at age 19 already had two years of experience under his belt.

Firefighters work on the roof as it collapses. A firefighter can be seen in the middle holding onto the roof. Photo Courtesy Belinda Hart

All three died Monday in a three-alarm blaze at a Lake Worth church that investigators believe was caused by arson. In the smoky haze of the smoldering remains, moist-eyed firefighters struggled to balance their sense of duty with an agonizing feeling of loss.

``It's something that is going to obviously take a toll on many departments, not just ours,'' said Lt. Kent Worley of the Fort Worth Fire Department. ``The brotherhood and sisterhood is such that we all lost a family member, irregardless of which department they are from.''

Phillip Dean Funeral Pool Photograph Jill Johnson/Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Two of the men -- Collins, 35, and Dean, 29 -- were Fort Worth firefighters who were volunteering for the nearby River Oaks department on their day off. Collins was a 14-year veteran, and Dean a 6-year veteran.

Sanders, the youngest of the three, worked for the Sansom Park Fire Department.

They died when the roof of the nondenominational Precious Faith Church, located about 35 miles west of Dallas, collapsed on top of them.

Four other firefighters were hospitalized with minor injuries. Three of them were trying to extinguish flames on the roof when it caved underneath them.

Family and friends of the victims gathered in a parking lot across the street from the church to hug, cry and console each other. Church members also grieved the loss of their church, which they built themselves 38 years ago in a neighborhood of small, modest homes.

Pastor J.C. Terry said he worried at first about the church. But his thoughts quickly turned to the men who gave their lives trying to save it.

``We can rebuild a building,'' Terry said, choking back tears. ``We can't bring back a life.''

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Firehouse.Com Note: It is with deep regret Firehouse.Com announces this tragedy. One of the victims, Brian Collins, was active on the internet and produced the River Oaks Volunteer Fire Department web site on Fire-EMS Network. He was listed as the Asst. Fire Chief and an EMT-B. Phillip Dean was listed as the Night Captain and an EMT-P. Please take the time to post your condolences and we will let firefighters from the department know after a period of time.

MEMORIAL SERVICE INFO

A large memorial for all three individuals is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, at the intersection of Hwy 114 and interstate 35. Contact numbers for departments or individuals seeking information are: 817-871-6177 and 817-871-6876. This number is the Fort Worth Fire Department's Emergency Management Office. Thanks to Executive Chief Jim Tidwell of the Fort Worth Fire Department and Greg Cocke FWFFA IAFF#440 for providing these updates.

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