By FireRescue1 Staff
WILMINGTON, Del. — Friends, family and colleagues attended memorial services Thursday for one of the two firefighters that died in a rowhouse blaze Sept. 24.
The public viewing for senior firefighter Jerry Fickes was the first of a two-day service, prompting hundreds of members of the community to pay their respects.
“It’s sobering to see the incredible turnout today to pay respect to our friend and brother Jerry,” Newark Deputy Fire Chief John Guzzo said.
Funeral services continued Friday with a second viewing for family, friends and members of the Wilmington Fire Department. Fickes’ burial will be private.
Fickes joined the department in 2003 and served in the U.S. Army. According to Delaware Online, Fickes died while attempting to save colleague Lt. Christopher Leach, who also died in the fire.
“Jerry is the kind of guy that would run into a burning building after somebody who needed help,” Barbara King, who attends the same church as Fickes’ family, said.
Officials charged Beatriz Fana-Ruiz, 27, whose home the two firefighters died in, with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of arson and four counts of second-degree assault in the injuries of other firefighters and seven counts of reckless endangerment.
.@kylebenjamin71 rides with @WilmFireDept on the hood in honor of the 2 Delaware firefighters who lost their lives. pic.twitter.com/mAZy00wzMf
— Ranier Racing MDM (@RRWMDM) September 30, 2016