HOUSTON – A procession of firefighters and first responders escorted the body of a fallen Houston firefighter from the medical examiner’s office to a funeral home Sunday morning.
Recommended Videos
Marcelo “Ox” Garcia III died in the line of duty late Wednesday night. Garcia was battling a warehouse fire on Supply Row near Polk on the city’s east side when a wall collapsed, injuring Garcia and another firefighter. Garcia was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries.
Garcia served with HFD for 10 years, the last six of which were with Station 23.
Garcia’s body was transported to the Forest Park Lawndale funeral home Sunday morning. Firefighters and other first responders could be seen saluting Garcia and paying tribute to him as his body was taken inside the building.
A woman has since been arrested, accused of setting the fire which led to Garcia’s death. 38-year-old Yesenia Espinoza Mendez is charged with first degree arson.
Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz said, “This charge is the first step in a long healing process for the firefighters of this City.” He adds, “I want to extend my personal gratitude to our Arson Bureau, the Houston Police Department, and the METRO police department for their collaboration on this investigation.”
Garcia is the first firefighter with the Houston Fire Department to die while fighting a fire since the 2013 Southwest Inn fire that killed several firefighters.
A public viewing will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Forest Park Lawndale funeral home. There will also be a private viewing reserved for Garcia’s friends and family.
The public funeral service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 9 a.m. at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston, TX 77002.