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Arson charges have been filed against the suspect accused of setting fire to the warehouse where firefighter Marcelo Garcia died. HFD says
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Arson charges have been filed against the suspect accused of setting fire to the warehouse where firefighter Marcelo Garcia died. HFD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — New arson charges have been filed against a suspect accused of setting a three-alarm warehouse fire that killed one Houston Fire Department firefighter and injured another in east Houston Wednesday night.

The Houston Fire Department’s Arson Bureau announced first-degree arson charges against a 38-year-old man they determined intentionally lit the vacant building fire on Polk Street near Wayside Driver just before 11pm

The video above is from the initial report.

Firefighters said firefighter Marcelo ‘Ox’ Garcia III responded to the scene with HFD, where a second alarm was requested before an emergency call was activated when a wall collapsed, killing the 42-year-old man.

HFD said another firefighter was injured and did not suffer serious injuries, but Garcia was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Garcia served with the department for 10 years and spent the last six years on the southeast side of Station 23 on Lawndale Street.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office will continue the investigation.

“This position is the first step in a long healing process for this city’s firefighters,” said HFD Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz. “I want to extend my personal thanks to our Arson Bureau, the Houston Police Department and the METRO Police Department for their collaboration in this investigation.”

Houston firefighters said the suspect was not in custody as of Saturday morning.

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