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One Wilmington firefighter improving, one remains critical

A Wilmington firefighter who was injured in a deadly blaze Saturday was upgraded from critical to stable condition Sunday at Crozer-Chester Medical Center's burn unit but his colleague, who is in the same burn unit in Upland, continues to fight for her life.

A Wilmington firefighter who was injured in a deadly blaze Saturday was upgraded from critical to stable condition Sunday at Crozer-Chester Medical Center's burn unit but his colleague, who is in the same burn unit in Upland, continues to fight for her life.

Firefighter Brad Speakman was upgraded to stable condition Sunday, according to a Crozer-Chester spokeswoman, but firefighter Ardythe Hope remains in critical condition.

Speakman and Hope fell through a collapsed floor of a rowhouse along with Lt. Christopher Leach and firefighter Jerry Fickes, as they tried to save a family in the house around 2:54 a.m.

Leach, 41, and Fickes, 51, perished in the blaze. Hope was airlifted to Crozer and Speakman was taken by ambulance. Two other firefighters were treated for less severe injuries at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., and then released.

The residents of the building, a mother, her five children and another child, escaped the fire and most were treated for smoke inhalation.

-Stephanie Farr