Monday, Wilmington Fire Chief Anthony Goode recounted the details of the events leading up to the deaths of two firefighters Saturday morning. 41-year-old Lieutenant Christopher Leach and 51-year-old Sr. Firefighter Jerry Fickes were killed responding to a house fire at 1927 Lakeview Road.
Firefighters responded to the house fire in Canby Park Saturday, September 24th, 2016, after receiving a call at 2:54 a.m.
"Units first on the scene received reports from the scene, on the street, that people were still trapped in the home," said Goode.
First responders didn't know the family had escaped before firefighters' arrival. Shortly after the firefighters entered the burning home, the first floor collapsed.
"They fell into the floor. Four individuals became trapped immediately. Others began to work on them. Trapped immediately--and who have succumbed to their injuries--are Lt. Christopher Leach," said Goode. "Lt. Leach was originally assigned to Engine 6, was working exchange for another officer that night and assigned to Ladder 2."