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Ga. firefighter who survived hostage situation gets engaged

While he was being held, he sent text messages to his girlfriend, Victoria Huggins

By Julia Reynolds
FOX Atlanta

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County firefighter who made it out safely from a hostage situation is going for a new title: husband.

Six firefighters were held hostage by a man who allegedly faked a medical call at a Suwanee home last month. That suspect, Lauren Brown, was shot and killed after SWAT team members ended the four-hour hostage situation.

Chip Echols was one of the firefighters. While he was being held, he sent text messages to his girlfriend, Victoria Huggins. “He texted me immediately saying that he loved me,” said Huggins. “And then about the same time, it came across the news -- hostage situation. And all I could ask him was, ‘are you one of them?’ And when he responded, ‘yes,’ I lost it.”

Full story: Firefighter who survived hostage situation gets engaged

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