The woman accused of starting a fire that resulted in the deaths of several Wilmington firefighters has plead guilty to arson, assault and second-degree murder.
Delaware Department of Justice officials say Beatriz Fana-Ruiz started the 2016 fire in the basement of her Canby Park home as a reaction to her living conditions.
Firefighters Christopher Leach, Jerry Fickes and Ardy Hope were killed while responding to the blaze.
DOJ officials say the deal with Fana-Ruiz will include a “lengthy” jail sentence as well as drug and alcohol treatment.
In a statement, DOJ officials said although Fana-Ruiz did not intend to physically harm anyone, her actions were “reckless, dangerous, and tragically, fatal.”
The case against Fana-Ruiz was not the only one related to the fire.
Firefighters who survived as well as family members of those who died filed a federal lawsuit against Wilmington officials last summer that alleges the deadliness of the fire resulted from a Wilmington Fire Department policy of temporarily taking fire engines and crews out of commission to cut costs.
