Houston firefighter killed when wall collapsed while battling fire

Houston — The inherent danger when firefighters try to protect property and lives is once again at the forefront following the death of a Houston firefighter.

Marcelo Garcia, 42, died when a wall collapsed late Wednesday night while battling a warehouse fire in east Houston, killing Garcia and injuring another firefighter.

The fire broke out just before 11 p.m. Wednesday at a warehouse on Polk Street near Wayside Drive and grew quickly.

Shortly after firefighters arrived, they called for a second alarm, and then there was an emergency call after a wall collapsed.

One of the firefighter’s injuries was not serious, but Garcia died at a hospital.

According to ABC 13, Garcia had been with HFD for 10 years and spent the last six years at Station 23 on Lawndale Street on the southeast side.

“It makes you wonder what kind of man he was. He was a man who woke up every morning to come to work so he could help others and save lives. A hero, a real hero,” said Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz.

“Firefighter Garcia left this morning expecting it to be a good day, a hard day, a dangerous day, but he did expect to go home,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said. “I met him recently. A handsome, 42-year-old young man with his life ahead of him.”

City leaders are asking for prayers for Garcia’s family and his co-workers, some of whom had to pull him from the warehouse.

“Here and still at the station it is a very sad day for the Houston Fire Department. We mourn together, we pray together, but more importantly we honor our brother and his life, we honor it together,” said Patrick “Marty ” Lancton with the Houston Firefighter’s Union.

Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz said the warehouse was empty. A man who works nearby told ABC13 he occasionally sees people working outside the building.