Community Mourns Wilmington Firefighters Killed In Line Of Duty
WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) - The city of Wilmington has lost two heroes, Lt. Christopher Leach, 41 and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, 51. They were killed in the line of duty, while fighting a house fire early Saturday morning.
Four other firefighters were injured, two critically, in the fire that started inside a home on the 1900 block of Lakeview Road just before 3 a.m.
"They gave everything right there, to rescue the people in the house," said neighbor Anabel Ramirez.
Missy Napier, another adult and six children were inside the house when the fire started in the basement.
"You couldn't get through the kitchen because it was so smoky," Napier said. "It wasn't fiery, but it was so smoky and we ran out back and ran back in, but the smoke was just too hot."
The family all got out safely. But Leach, Fickes and two other firefighters became trapped in the basement when the floor collapsed beneath them.
"Please keep us in your prayers," said Fire Chief Anthony Goode. "This is a very tragic day for the Wilmington Fire Department to lose two individuals, two of our brothers.
Their sacrifice just too much for Napier to bear, she broke down in her mother's arms while recounting the fire to reporters.
"She's praying for their families, she knows it's hard because she has kids, but it's breaking her heart to know that they passed away in her house," said Debbie Napier, Missy's mother.
At the fire station, the flag hangs at half-staff, with black bunting draped over the truck bays. A city is left heartbroken over the loss of two firefighters, two fathers, two heroes.
"The entire city is in pain, the entire fire department, just work with us, stay with us and pray for us," said Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams.
"It's really sad because they have family, they have kids and their not going to have their parents no more and that's sad," Ramirez said.
Two of the injured firefighters remain in stable, but critical condition at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Two other firefighters were treated and released from Christiana Hospital.
Leach was a 14-year-veteran of the fire department, while Fickes was a 13-year-veteran. Both were fathers who left behind children.