Condolences for City of Wilmington Fallen Firefighters

It is with deep regrets and sorrow that the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company sends our condolences and sympathies to the City of Wilmington Fallen Firefighters, their families, and their friends.  We offer our support and assistance during these difficult times.

Indian River asks that our fellow brother and sister firefighters and friends keep the fallen and injured firefighters in your thoughts and prayers.

May God Bless our First Responders.

Funeral Services for Wilmington firefighters Jerry Fickes and Christopher Leach are scheduled for Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware.  This ceremony is open to the public.

Memorial Service Information courtesy of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association (DVFA):

After consultation with the families, the joint memorial service will be held at 1pm on Saturday October 1, 2016 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, located at 815 Justison St. Wilmington, DE. Link: http://www.centerontheriverfront.org

This will be the main service honoring Lt. Leach and Senior Firefighter Fickes and is open to all fire fighters, first responders, friends and the public.

Doors will open at 12:00pm.

This will be the only event where departments will be able to stage their apparatus as part of a static display of honor.

Funeral Services – Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, Jr.

There will be a public viewing at the Grace Lutheran Church, 2033 Graves Rd., Hockessin, DE on Thursday September 29th from 5:00-8:00 pm. Fire personnel are asked to pay their respects during this time. A second viewing will occur from 2:00-4:00pm on Friday September 30th, with a private service to follow immediately afterwards. It is requested that this event remain one for family, friends, and members of the Wilmington Fire Department. Seating and parking will be extremely limited at this church.

Funeral Services - Lieutenant Christopher Leach

Services will be held at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, 809 S Broom St. in Wilmington on Friday September 30, 2016. The day will begin at 10am with a viewing that will be open to family and friends, the Wilmington Fire Department and local first responders. It will be followed by a funeral mass starting at 12 noon. Uniformed personal are requested to be at the community center on Cedar Street by 8am.

Memorial Service Information:

Fire Service Personnel with Apparatus:

If you plan to arrive at Saturday's joint memorial service on fire apparatus, please enter Lot B no later than 10:00am (parking lots open at 8:00 am). You will be positioned at the venue for a static display for the arrival of the families and the public. It is requested that no outside apparatus attend the funeral services. Outside fire fighters and first responders are asked to arrive at the Chase Center no later than 10:30 am. Upon arrival you will be directed to specific parking and then to the entrance for seating inside the venue. Doors will open at 12 noon for a 1:00 pm start.

Please note there may be extra security procedures put in place that will require an earlier arrival time.

Please check the web site at http://www.wilmingtonfirefighters.org, for the latest logistic information.

Flowers: (the following is the request of the families from the obituaries):

Leach Family In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the official fund established by the Wilmington Firemen's Local 1590, which is linked to http://www.wilmingtonfirefighters.org. Donations can also be made to the Firemen's Local 1590 through the Wilmington Police and Fire Federal Credit Union (WPFFCU), 1701 Shallcross Avenue, Suite B, Wilmington, DE 19806.

Fickes Family In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Lutheran Community Services, 2809 Baynard Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19802 or to the Food Bank of Delaware, 14 Garfield Way, Newark, DE 19713.