Lt. Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes

 

Two Wilmington firefighters were killed and four injured when the first floor of a burning row home collapsed early Saturday morning.

The fire broke out in a brick home along Lakeview Road in a development called Canby Park.

Wilmington's Fire Chief Anthony Goode said the floors in the home were soft and brittle. When the floor caved, veteran firefighters Lt. Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes fell through to the basement and became trapped

The fallen firefighters both leave behind children and families, Goode said. Leach, 41, was with the department 14 years and Fickes, who was 51, spent the last 13 years as a Wilmington firefighter.

Just last week, Leach left a Facebook post that seems to underscore his love of the job.

 

The Elwood Vol Fire Company would like to express our deepest sympathy to the families and members of the Wilmington Fire Department.

 

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Called out for a motor vehicle accident. A box truck went off the road and hit a utility pole on White Horse Pike and a utility pole on Wharton Park Blvd. Power line down on truck. Assisted police with traffic. Stood by until electric company turned off electricity and vehicle was removed. All Elwood units cleared at 9:46am

Mullica units were dispatched to a boarding home for an activated fire alarm. Upon arrival, no fire was found. Alarm was accidentally tripped by worker of the boarding home while cleaning. All alarm units were checked and reset. All units cleared at 4:14am

Called out for a vehicle fire. On arrival, found two vehicles involved and close to the building. Extinguished both vehicles. No damage to building. All Elwood units cleared at 2:22am

Tree branch fell on service to house. On arrival found smoke in the basement shut down main breaker, stood by for electric company to arrive cleared scene upon electric company arrival

Called for the report of wires aching & tree smoking at 2:57pm. Arrived at 3:07pm Made the area safe & diverted traffic until the Electric Company arrived & removed the tree. All station 160 units were back in service at 4:35pm.