HOUSTON, TX – Houston Firefighter Marcelo Garcia died following a vacant warehouse fire last night in the 6600 block of Polk. According to Chief Munoz, firefighters responded to the blaze at 10:50 p.m., with units arriving on scene six minutes later. A second alarm was issued shortly after their arrival, and at 11:04 p.m., a mayday call was made when a wall collapsed and trapped firefighters. The call was then upgraded to a 3rd alarm.
Garcia, a ten-year veteran of the department, was critically injured in the collapse and transported to Memorial Hermann in the Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Another firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment at the same facility.
Video footage from the Citizen app shows flames and heavy smoke coming from the warehouse as firefighters work to contain the blaze.
Garcia served his last six years at Station 23, and support services are being extended to both his family and fellow firefighters through Critical Incident Stress Management teams.
Houston Mayor Whitmire joined Chief Munoz last night in expressing condolences to Garcia’s family, colleagues, and the community, urging residents to keep the Houston Fire Department and Garcia’s family in their prayers.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
More information will follow if it becomes available.
