HOUSTON – Houston Fire Department They are grieving a heavy loss after losing one of their own while fighting a 4-alarm fire on the East Side on Thursday.

The incident occurred just before 11 p.m. Wednesday night when crews were called to a flame-engulfed warehouse on Supply Row near Polk Street, off Hwy 90.

A few minutes later, HFD Chief Thomas Munoz said a second alarm was sounded for additional reinforcements.

A mayday was later called as well as a 3rd alarm when a wall collapsed, injuring two firefighters.

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One of them was slightly injured and in good condition, but the other firefighter, identified as Marcelo Garcia (42), tragically died in the hospital.

A visibly distraught Chief Munoz said Garcia served with HFD for 10 years, the last six of which were at Station 23.

“Please keep the Garcia family in your prayers and the Houston Fire Department in your prayers as we mourn the loss of our brother,” he said.

“On behalf of all Houstonians, I ask that we come together and recognize the life-threatening conditions our first responders experience every day,” Mayor John Whitmire said. “Fireman Garcia left this morning expecting a good day, a hard day, a dangerous day, but he was expecting to come home.”

The mayor also added that he recently met Firefighter Garcia and described him as a good young man who had his whole life ahead of him, who was tragically devastated by making the ultimate sacrifice.

“We lost a great firefighter in Garcia and we will not forget him,” Mayor Whitmire said. “We will honor firefighter Garcia throughout this city; We will not forget him. “But when these officers go to work every day, we have to thank our lucky stars that we live in Houston, Texas, where we care for our firefighters.”

Chief Munoz echoed Mayor Whitmire’s comments, adding that Garcia is a dedicated hero to the City of Houston.

“He woke up every day to serve the public, just like all of our brothers and sisters in the Houston Fire Department,” Chief Munoz added, fighting back tears. “His purpose was to serve the people; saving lives, as the mayor said, so others can feel safe; An extraordinary man who made the ultimate sacrifice. And that’s why every firefighter wears that shirt, that patch, that badge.”

“He’s a guy who wakes up every morning and comes to work,” the chief concluded. “So he could help others and save lives: a hero, a real hero.”