HOUSTON — Hundreds of firefighters, family and community members gathered to remember fallen firefighter Marcelo "Ox" Garcia at his funeral Wednesday morning. Garcia was killed November 6 while battling a three-alarm warehouse fire in the Greater East End.

A public funeral service for Houston firefighter Marcelo “Ox" Garcia III starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 111 St. Joseph Pkwy. in Houston. A separate, private viewing will be held for family and close friends.

Marcelo Garcia was a ten-year veteran of HFD and proudly served the East Houston community, where he grew up. He spent several years working out of Fire Station 23.

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.

Houston Firefighter Marcelo 'Ox' Garcia III is being remembered today by hundreds of colleagues from around the state and country. Garcia died last Wednesday in a collapse at a warehouse fire. His station assignment was unique -- in the neighborhood where he grew up. He often responded to calls from neighbors and others he or his family knew.