A year and five months after a Wilmington rowhome blaze claimed the lives of three city firefighters, federal officials are still investigating what factors made the Canby Park fire so deadly – and how the city can prevent similar tragedies.
City residents and firefighters hope an upcoming report can help explain why the Sept. 24, 2016, fire resulted in the deaths of Capt. Chris Leach, Lt. Jerry Fickes and Lt. Ardythe Hope.
"There’s a lot of uncertainty as to whether the correct calls were made to enter the house," said City Councilman Bob Williams, a former volunteer firefighter. "I think it’s important that the truth be told and that the adjustments are made to prevent this from happening in the future."
The Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program is reviewing Wilmington's case. It's an initiative run by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that conducts independent investigations of firefighter line-of-duty deaths.