Houston Fire Depatment

A veteran firefighter and a rookie who had served in Iraq died battling a Houston house fire.

The Houston Fire Department identified the victims as 50-year-old Capt. James Harlow of Pasadena and 29-year-old probationary firefighter Damion Hobbs, who grew up in Alvin.

Harlow had worked for the department since August 1979. Hobbs graduated from firefighter training in March.

A news release from the department said the cause of the house fire, reported early Sunday, is under investigation.

Hobbs returned from a 14-month tour of duty in Iraq in July 2007. His sister, Janice DeShazer, said Hobbs was in the reserves with the Texas Air National Guard at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston.