Connecticut firefighter dies morning after Christmas from injuries suffered at blaze - WCVB Boston

NORTH HAVEN, Conn. —

A 22-year seasoned of the North Haven Fire Department has died from injuries helium sustained portion moving astatine an aboriginal greeting blaze astatine a four-family location connected Monday, the occurrence main confirmed, calling the decease a tragic nonaccomplishment for his department.

The incidental occurred portion firefighters were battling the blaze.

A mayday telephone for a “firefighter down" was issued during the onslaught connected the fire, according to a study released by the department. Firefighter Matthias Wirtz, 46, was located extracurricular the burning building, operating a occurrence truck. Medical attraction was provided earlier helium was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the report. He was aboriginal pronounced dormant astatine the hospital.

The Connecticut State Police occurrence portion is investigating the origin of the blaze, which displaced 13 residents connected Christmas night.

“We worked hard to prevention him, existent hard. We made each effort possible," Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said of Wirtz, noting determination was an ambulance and paramedics connected the country due to the fact that of the fire. He did not elaborate connected Wirtz's injuries.

Januszewski said helium began moving for the section astir the aforesaid clip arsenic Wirtz. He said the firefighter was excited astir precocious being tasked arsenic a driver.

“He was everybody’s friend. He was a large person. He was a large household man,” Januszewski said. “He would bash thing for anybody.”

The occurrence main said neighboring occurrence departments that helped to conflict the occurrence would proceed to assistance his section connected Monday arsenic members grapple with Wirtz's death.

“Through the people of the time today, those departments volition proceed to enactment our section successful responding to incidents and to let our members immoderate clip to grieve,” helium said. Fire departments from astir the authorities expressed condolences connected societal media to North Haven firefighters and Wirtz's family.

Firefighters were called to the multi-family location soon aft 1 a.m. and discovered dense fume coming retired of the backmost of the three-floor building. The occurrence had besides reached into the attic.

Wirtz started his vocation arsenic a unpaid firefighter successful 1996, serving the North East Volunteer Fire Co. #4 successful North Haven. He received galore letters of commendation implicit the years and was among the Connecticut firefighters who responded to the violent attacks successful New York City connected Sept. 11, 2001.