Ten years ago, Wilmington, Delaware, firefighters responded to a rowhouse fire that, on its face, presented the kind of challenge they had handled countless times before — a “bread-and-butter” fire, as they say.
But the Sept. 24, 2016, fire would become one of the most consequential incidents in the department’s history. Lt. Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes were killed in the line of duty. Senior Firefighter Ardythe Hope died 67 days later, on Dec. 1, 2016, from complications of her injuries. Firefighter Brad Speakman, Senior Firefighter Terrance Tate and Lt. John Cawthray were seriously injured during rescue efforts.
Consistent with protocol, the three fallen firefighters were posthumously promoted one rank.
What happened
Shortly before 3 a.m., the initial alarm was dispatched for a structure fire in a rowhouse located in the Canby Park neighborhood of Wilmington. This community was originally constructed in 1944, developed as part of the post-World War II building boom…