The viewing is on Tuesday before the funeral on Wednesday. Flags will be at half-staff on Wednesday and drivers are asked to turn headlights on.
HOUSTON — This week, a community is honoring and remembering a Houston firefighter who died in the line of duty last week.
Marcelo Garcia, 42, died Thursday after a wall fell on him as he was fighting a fire at a vacant warehouse on Houston’s East End. Another firefighter was injured.
There will be a public viewing for Garcia on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home at 6900 Lawndale. There will be a separate private viewing for Garcia’s family and friends.
Garcia’s public funeral will be the following day, Wednesday, November 13 at 9 a.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which is at 1111 St. Joseph Parkway.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire has asked drivers in Houston and those commuting to Houston to turn their headlights on to honor Garcia. Flags will also be at half-staff.
Garcia was a 10-year veteran of the Houston Fire Department. Last week, a day after his death, fellow firefighters who worked alongside Garcia spoke to KHOU 11.
Arrest in the case
Over the weekend, a woman was charged in the case. Yesenia Espinoza Mendez, 38, has been charged with arson-bodily injury or death, according to court records. She was taken into custody on Saturday.
Charging documents claim Espinoza lit materials in a warehouse that grew quickly. That fire ultimately led to Garcia’s death and another firefighter being injured, the documents said
HFD said a wall collapsed while Garcia was battling the fire in Houston’s East End. Charging documents revealed that firefighters had to pull Garcia out from the rubble and were unable to resuscitate him.
Houston METRO police were able to identify Espinoza as a suspect through facial recognition software after surveillance video showed her leaving the scene and getting on a METRO train.
On Saturday, in probable cause court, a judge granted Espinoza a $100,000 surety bond.
Espinoza is a mother of six. Her family told KHOU 11 News she’s had a tough life, suffering from mental health issues such as depression.
More than 100 firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire.