Texas Firefighter Ran for His Life to Escape Wildfire

DALLAS — A volunteer firefighter hospitalized in a Dallas burn unit says he ran for his life after being caught in a raging wildfire.

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Shown is a burned-out fire truck that was overrun by flames by a wildfire in Eastland County near Gorman, Texas, Saturday, April 16, 2011. Firefighters abandoned the truck and tried to escape by foot, but one fell into a ditch, and died after being overcome by the fire.
(AP Photo/LM Otero)

Standing in front of a burned out fire truck, volunteer firefighter Steve Forbus pauses while he talks about the firefighter that was killed while trying to escape a wildfire that burned the truck in Eastland County near Gorman, Texas, Saturday, April 16, 2011. "It was a very emotional day for us," said Forbus. Volunteer firefighter Gregory M. Simmons, 51, died as he and other firefighters fled the truck as it was being overrun by flames. Simmons fell in a ditch where the fire caught him, according to an official.
(AP Photo/LM Otero)

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Matt Clark responded to a brush fire near his home in Gorman last week.

Clark, in a bedside interview Monday with WFAA-TV, said his crew was surrounded by flames. Clark says he and others "were at a dead sprint, trying to outrun the fire" and it was very scary.

Clark, who's a Texas prison guard, is recovering from burns on his face and hands.

The Department of Public Safety says a volunteer firefighter who died last Friday had been hit by a vehicle after fleeing a truck trapped in a wildfire-consumed pasture between Fort Worth and Abilene. A memorial service is Wednesday for Greg Simmons of Eastland.

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Information from: WFAA-TV, http://www.wfaa.com

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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