Arrest made in Wilmington fatal fire
Firefighters rest on a fence outside the home where Wilmington firefighters were killed in September 2016. (John Jankowski/for NewsWorks)
A 27-year-old woman who lived in the Canby Park rowhome that went up in flames last week has been arrested and charged for setting the fire that killed two Wilmington firefighters.
The suspect’s name is Beatriz Fana-Ruiz. She is the daughter of the home’s owner. According to a Wilmington Fire Department release, Fana-Ruiz was charged with murder, four counts of assault, arson and reckless endangering.
Lt. Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes were killed while fighting the fire. Leach was a 14-year-veteran of the fire department, while Fickes was a 13-year-veteran.
Two other firefighters were hospitalized at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Their conditions are said to be improving.
Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio said while investigators know the motive and how Fana-Ruiz set the fire, he cannot divulge that information at this time.
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