PRESS STATEMENT: Joint Statement Honoring Wilmington’s Fallen Firefighters on 10th Anniversary of the Lakeview Road Fire
September 24, 2026
Joint Statement Honoring Wilmington’s Fallen Firefighters on 10th Anniversary of the Lakeview Road Fire
Wilmington, DE – Wilmington City Council President Pro Tempore Yolanda McCoy (6th District), who serves as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Councilman Coby Owens (1st District), who serves as Chair of the Health, Environmental, Aging & Disabilities Committee, today issued the following joint statement commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 24, 2016, Lakeview Road fire and honoring the three Wilmington firefighters who lost their lives as a result of the tragedy.
The Wilmington Fire Department will hold its 10th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony, “Last Alarm,” today, Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Canby Park in Wilmington. The ceremony will bring together the Wilmington Fire Department, families of the fallen firefighters, and members of the Wilmington community to remember and pay tribute to their ultimate sacrifice.
Councilwoman McCoy is also sponsoring a recognition resolution honoring the fallen firefighters, which is scheduled to be presented during the October 1, 2026, Wilmington City Council meeting.
Joint Statement from Councilwoman Yolanda McCoy and Councilman Coby Owens
“Today, we join the Wilmington community in solemn remembrance of Captain Christopher Leach, Lieutenant Jerry Fickes, and Lieutenant Ardythe ‘Ardy’ Hope, whose lives were lost as a result of the tragic Lakeview Road fire on September 24, 2016.
Ten years later, their courage, service, and sacrifice remain an enduring part of Wilmington’s history. We remember not only the firefighters we lost, but also their families, loved ones, and fellow members of the Wilmington Fire Department who continue to carry their memory forward.
As members of Wilmington City Council, we also extend our sincere gratitude to every member of the Wilmington Fire Department. Every call you answer requires courage, selflessness, and a willingness to put the safety of others before your own. We thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your commitment to the residents of Wilmington.
As we mark this 10th anniversary and prepare to formally recognize the sacrifice of these fallen firefighters at the October 1 City Council meeting, we ask Wilmington to join us in remembering Captain Leach, Lieutenant Fickes, and Lieutenant Hope and honoring the men and women who continue their legacy of service.
Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications, Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.govCity Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com