Thank you for your service. Today thousands will honor and mourn the loss of beloved North Haven firefighter Matthias Wirtz, who died in the line of duty the day after Christmas.
Thousands of uniformed first responders are expected to pay their respects on Tuesday, not only to Wirtz, but to a profession that’s both dangerous and necessary.
“It’s important for us on the healing side to know somebody has your back, somebody is going to protect your family if someone is making the supreme sacrifice,” said Scott Bisson, North Haven deputy fire chief.
Fire officials said the 46-year-old was battling a four-family house fire on Quinnipiac Avenue on Dec. 26 when he collapsed outside the building while operating water lines. Medical care was provided on the scene before he was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Wirtz was a 22-year veteran of the North Haven Fire Department and was among those who responded to New York City on 9/11. He’s remembered for his big smile, generosity, and unwavering devotion.
Wirtz is survived by his mother, wife, and three stepchildren.
A funeral for Wirtz will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth of Trinity Parish at St. Barnabas Church, at 44 Washington Ave. He will be honored with a line-of-duty death funeral protocol.
North Haven Public Schools will be closed Tuesday. The department will use the North Haven High School campus and district school buses to take people to and from the wake and funeral from these locations.
- St. Francis Cabrini Church – 57 Pond Hill Rd., North Haven
- North Haven High School – 221 Elm St., North Haven
- St. Therese Church – 555 Middletown Ave., North Haven
*Many road closures to allow safe travel and a respectful tribute will be designated in and around these areas too.
Busses will begin at 9 a.m. for the funeral. They will run continuously until they are no longer needed, police said.