Services scheduled for fallen Wilmington firefighters

Wilmington Firefighters Chris Leach and Jerry Fickes will be remembered in separate funerals and at a joint memorial service later this week. 

The Wilmington Fire Department released details Tuesday of the services for two firefighters killed in the line of duty on Saturday. 

The first public viewing service will be held for Senior Fire Fighter Jerry Fickes Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hockessin. Fire personnel are asked to pay their respects at that time. A second viewing for family, friends, and members of the Wilmington Fire Department will be held Friday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. A funeral for family, friends and Wilmington Fire Department members will be held at 4 p.m.

A viewing for Lt. Chris Leach will be held Friday at 11 a.m., followed by funeral mass at 12 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington. Services for Leach are open to family, friends, and members of the Wilmington Fire Dept., in addition to local first responders. 

A memorial service for both men will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Chase Center on the Wilmington Riverfront. The memorial service is open to all fire fighters, first responders, friends and the public. The doors will open at 12 p.m. 

Leach and Fickes were killed while fighting a fire in a row house in Wilmington on Saturday. The floor of the home collapsed, trapping firefighters. Leach was a 14-year-veteran of the fire department, while Fickes was a 13-year-veteran.