Local News
Hazardous Materials Incident at Cleveland Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
UPDATE: The hazardous materials incident in the 1800 block of 8th Street NW has been resolved. A total of 28 individuals, including 24 students and 4 adults, were evaluated by emergency medical services.
While no further medical attention was required for most, one adult was transported to a hospital for evaluation.
The school building was ventilated, and no hazardous readings were detected. The source of the odor was identified as asphalt work at a nearby construction site.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Emergency responders are currently on the scene at Cleveland Elementary School in Washington, D.C., following a hazardous materials incident.
The school has been evacuated, and 17 children and 10 adults are reporting feeling ill.
The fire department is investigating the nature of the hazardous substance and is working to contain the situation.
Police ask public to please stay out of the area.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.
Local News
Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia dies battling warehouse fire in Greater East End
Another firefighter was also injured in the collapse but is expected to recover.
The Houston Fire Department (HFD) is grieving the loss of one of its dedicated firefighters, Marcelo Garcia, 42, who tragically lost his life while combating a three-alarm warehouse fire in Houston’s Greater East End on Wednesday night.
Garcia, a respected 10-year veteran stationed at Station 23, was killed when a wall collapsed as crews fought the intense blaze.
Another firefighter was also injured in the collapse but is expected to recover.
The emergency began shortly before 11 p.m. as firefighters responded to reports of a fire at a warehouse located on Supply Row, near Polk Street, just west of Highway 90.
The fire rapidly intensified, prompting officials to call a second alarm at 11:04 p.m. Shortly after, amid the growing danger, a mayday alert was issued due to the wall collapse, leading to a third alarm as reinforcements rushed to the scene.
Garcia and his injured colleague were quickly transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.
HFD Chief Thomas Muñoz noted that Critical Incident Stress Management teams have been activated to support the firefighting team affected by the tragedy and to offer assistance to Garcia’s family.
Chief Muñoz issued a heartfelt statement, “We ask the City of Houston to keep the Garcia family and the Houston Fire Department in your prayers as we mourn our brother.”
Houston Mayor John Whitmire also expressed deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting the tremendous sacrifice made by first responders.
“This is the hardest part of my role as mayor of this great city – to respond to a tragedy involving one of our first responders, one of our heroes,” he said. “On behalf of the citizens of Houston, I offer my deepest condolences to the Garcia family.”
As HFD, the city, and Garcia’s loved ones cope with the loss, his bravery and dedication to protecting Houston will be honored and remembered.
The investigation into the cause of the fire and collapse is ongoing, and updates will be provided as they emerge.