Hundreds gather for Wilmington firefighter funerals [video]
Lt. Chris Leach's casket is lowered from the back of a Wilmington Fire Dept. truck before his funeral. (John Jankowski/for NewsWorks)
St. Elizabeth’s church in Wilmington was filled to capacity for the Friday afternoon funeral of Lt. Chris Leach. A funeral for Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes was to be held later Friday.
Firefighters from all around the region joined their colleagues in the Wilmington Fire Department to say farewell to Leach and Fickes. Lots of friends, family and community members turned out for the funerals as well.
Leach was a 14-year-veteran of the fire department, while Fickes was a 13-year-veteran.
Both men were killed last Saturday morning while fighting a fire in the Canby Park section of Wilmington. Two other firefighters were injured.
On Thursday, investigators announced an arrest in connection with the fire. 27-year-old Beatriz Fana-Ruiz was charged with murder, four counts of assault, arson and reckless endangering. According to the Wilmington Fire Department, Fana-Ruiz was the daughter of the home’s owner.
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