Houston firefighters are mourning the loss of one of their own.
Firefighter Marcelo Garcia, 42, was killed when a wall collapsed at a three-alarm warehouse fire,
Garcia, a 10-year veteran, was assigned to Station 23. KHOU reported.
When the wall collapsed and a 'Mayday' was declared, a third alarm assignment was dispatched.
He and another firefighter, who suffered minor injuries, were transported to Memorial Hermann at Texas Medical Center. Colleagues went to the hospital to support Garcia's family.
"Every day, he woke up to serve the public, just like all our brothers and sisters in the Houston Fire Department,” Fire Chief Thomas Munoz added fighting through tears. “His reason was to serve the public; save lives, as the mayor said, so others can feel safe; a remarkable man who gave the ultimate sacrifice. And every firefighter that puts on that shirt, that patch, that badge, that’s the reason.”
“He’s a man who woke up every morning to come to work. So he could help others and save lives: A hero, a true hero.”
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.