3rd Firefighter Dies As Result Of Wilmington Arson

WILMINGTON, De. (CBS) -- A third firefighter has died as a result of a fire that took place in Wilmington on September 24.

The death of firefighter Ardythe Hope was announced Thursday by Wilmington Fire Chief Anthony Goode.

Hope becomes the third firefighter to lose their life to the blaze following the deaths of Lt. Lieutenant Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes. She suffered burns over 70-percent of her body and had been in critical condition since the fire.

She was trapped inside when trying to rescue the two others.

The fire broke out at a home in the 1900 Block of Lakeview Road.

Firefighters encountered heavy flames as they entered the front of the residence. They made their way upstairs, when Goode says the floors became weak and brittle, and began to collapse.

Officials determined the fire had been intentionally set as a result of an investigation.

Beatriz Fana-Ruiz was charged with two counts of murder in the first degree, assault and arson in connection to the fire.

KYW Newsradio's Mike Dougherty contributed to this report.