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Arson charges filed against woman accused of setting fire to warehouse where firefighter Marcelo Garcia was killed, HFD says
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Arson charges filed against woman accused of setting fire to warehouse where firefighter Marcelo Garcia was killed, HFD says

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

The Houston Fire Department’s fire bureau announced first-degree arson charges against a 38-year-old man they determined intentionally started the vacant building fire on Polk Street near Wayside Driver just before 11 p.m.: 00.

The video above is from initial report.

According to court records, Yesenia Espinoza Mendez, 38, was charged with arson.

Fire officials said Firefighter Marcelo “Ox” Garcia III responded to the scene with HFD, where a second alarm was sounded before a May Day call was activated when a wall collapsed, killing the 42-year-old .

HFD said another firefighter was injured and not seriously injured, but Garcia was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Garcia has served with the department for 10 years and has spent the last six years on the southeast side at 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 indictment is the first step in a long healing process for the firefighters of this city,” said HFD Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz. “I want to express my personal gratitude to our Fire Bureau, the Houston Police Department and the METRO Police Department for their cooperation in this investigation.”

According to HFD, funeral arrangements for Garcia were announced Saturday evening.

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