Houston Firefighter Who Died After Wall Collapsed During Warehouse Blaze Remembered as 'True Hero'
Marcelo Garcia spent 10 years with the Houston Fire Department before his tragic death, according to the fire chief
A Houston firefighter has died after he and another first responder were injured while battling a warehouse blaze.
The Houston Fire Department responded to the fire on Polk Street around 10:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Nov. 6, according to Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz, who spoke at a press conference overnight.
Less than 10 minutes after crews arrived at the scene, Muñoz said a mayday call was made from inside the burning building after a wall collapsed.
Two firefighters were subsequently transported to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, according to the fire department . Among them was 42-year-old Marcelo Garcia, who died of his injuries, Muñoz said.
Garcia had been with the HFD for 10 years, spending the last six at Station 23. Muñoz described him as "a true hero."
"He was a man who woke up every morning to come to work so he could help others and save lives," the fire chief told reporters at the press conference.
Patrick "Marty" Lancton of the Houston Firefighter's Union called it "a very sad day for the Houston Fire Department," ABC affiliate KTRK-TV reported.
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"We mourn together, we pray together, but more importantly, we honor our brother and his life. We honor it together," he said at the press conference.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said he had recently met Garcia and described him as a "young man with his life in front of him."
"Firefighter Garcia left this morning expecting a good day, a hard day, a dangerous day, but he did expect to go home," Whitmire told reporters. He later added, "We will honor Firefighter Garcia across the city. We will not forget him."
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The warehouse fire was eventually extinguished, according to Muñoz.
The second firefighter who was hurt while battling the blaze sustained non-serious injuries, the fire chief said.
