Funeral held for Lt. Christopher Leach

WILMINGTON (WTXF) - Services for Lt. Christopher Leach were held Friday morning. Lt. Leach was killed in a Wilmington house fire last weekend.

Lt. Christopher Leach's coffin arrived at St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Wilmington on the back of a fire truck. An American flag flapping in the wind between two ladder trucks and bag pipes playing as friends, family and first responders made their way into the packed church.

Leach's cousin told mourners Chris wanted to be a firefighter ever since he was a young boy. He recalled when he first joined the department.

"He was glued to that fire radio like most people are glued to the mobile devices."

Lt. Leach was working for a friend the day he was killed. He rushed into a burning home on Lakeview Road Saturday morning thinking there were still people inside. The floor collapsed killing Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes and injuring four others.

There were lots of tears and laughter as Lt. Leach was remember as quite the prankster and a not so good dancer.

There has been a fund setup for the children of Lt. Leach and Sr. FF Fickes. This is the only recognized, official fund that will benefit the families. Online donations may be made to: www.gofund.me/iaff1590