As many of you know, Wilmington, DE suffered a double LODD on September 24th, when Captain Chris Leach and Lt Jerry Fickes died while searching a burning rowhome for reported trapped occupants. Their deaths occurred when Capt Leach fell through the first floor into the burning basement along with Firefighters Brad Speakman and Ardythe Hope. Firefighters Speakman and Hope were pulled from the basement with critical burn injuries. Firefighter Hope remains in extremely critical condition with burns over 70% of her body at Crozer Burn Center in Chester, PA. Capt Leach was trapped by falling debris and Lt Fickes and other members of Squad 4 attempted to free him. During this rescue attempt, the remainder of the 1st floor collapsed on them, killing Capt Leach and Lt Fickes.
What many do not know is that the first due Engine company to this fire, Engine 6, was closed that evening. The travel distance to the fire for Engine 6 is approximately 1/2 mile. The first due engine that night was Engine 1, their travel distance is over 2 miles. The WFD administration, in an attempt to save money on overtime expenses, has been closing an engine company on a daily basis for the past several years. This flawed policy takes the on duty force from 6 engine companies and 2 truck companies with 34 firefighters down to 5 engine companies and 2 truck companies with 30 firefighters on duty. A double fatal fire occurred in January of 2016 where 2 small girls were killed in a house fire, on that day, Engine 1, the first due engine to the fire was closed.
After this fire, and the LODD fire, the closures stopped briefly. Now, nearly 2 months to the day, the closures have started again!!! Showing that the city and the FD administration value the dollar above life, both civilian and firefighter. Below is a link to a Change.org petition that wil be delivered to the mayor, fire chief and city council. Please take a moment to sign the petition to stop company closures and share it with others. You make be asked for a donation when you are completing the petition. This is generated by the website operator and is not related to the actual petition, there is no fundraising involved with the petition. You do not need to donate to sign. Thank you for your help!!!!!
https://www.change.org/p/stop-rolling-by...department
What many do not know is that the first due Engine company to this fire, Engine 6, was closed that evening. The travel distance to the fire for Engine 6 is approximately 1/2 mile. The first due engine that night was Engine 1, their travel distance is over 2 miles. The WFD administration, in an attempt to save money on overtime expenses, has been closing an engine company on a daily basis for the past several years. This flawed policy takes the on duty force from 6 engine companies and 2 truck companies with 34 firefighters down to 5 engine companies and 2 truck companies with 30 firefighters on duty. A double fatal fire occurred in January of 2016 where 2 small girls were killed in a house fire, on that day, Engine 1, the first due engine to the fire was closed.
After this fire, and the LODD fire, the closures stopped briefly. Now, nearly 2 months to the day, the closures have started again!!! Showing that the city and the FD administration value the dollar above life, both civilian and firefighter. Below is a link to a Change.org petition that wil be delivered to the mayor, fire chief and city council. Please take a moment to sign the petition to stop company closures and share it with others. You make be asked for a donation when you are completing the petition. This is generated by the website operator and is not related to the actual petition, there is no fundraising involved with the petition. You do not need to donate to sign. Thank you for your help!!!!!
https://www.change.org/p/stop-rolling-by...department
Rob Pryor, Captain
Wilmington, DE Fire Department
Firefighter, Five Points Fire Company, New Castle County, DE Station 17
http://www.facebook....p?id=1435317177
In Memory of Lieutenant Chris Leach, Engine 6-D, Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, Squad 4-C, and Senior Firefighter Ardy Hope Engine 5-C LODD 9-24-2016.
In Memory of P/M Stephanie Callaway "Gigglemedic", Sussex County EMS Medic #1357, LODD 6-17-08
Wilmington, DE Fire Department
Firefighter, Five Points Fire Company, New Castle County, DE Station 17
http://www.facebook....p?id=1435317177
In Memory of Lieutenant Chris Leach, Engine 6-D, Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, Squad 4-C, and Senior Firefighter Ardy Hope Engine 5-C LODD 9-24-2016.
In Memory of P/M Stephanie Callaway "Gigglemedic", Sussex County EMS Medic #1357, LODD 6-17-08
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