Hundreds of firefighters from around the state and region gathered in North Haven on Jan. 3 to pay their respects to a firefighter who died at the scene of a two-alarm fire on Dec. 26.

Matthias Wirtz, 46, was a 22-year veteran of the North Haven Fire Department (NHFD). He was among the NHFD members responding to a fire at a multi-family residential apartment on Quinnipiac Ave in the early morning hours of Dec. 26. While firefighters worked to contain the blaze, a mayday call was issued for a firefighter down. Wirtz was quickly located outside of the building while operating a fire engine and medical care was immediately initiated by on-scene fire units and ambulance personnel, according to a press release issued by NHFD. He later died at Yale New Haven Hospital. The state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Wirtz died from heart disease, including hypertension due to high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, and an abnormal heart valve.

Hundreds of first responders, politicians, family, and friends gathered for a wake on Jan. 2. Funeral services were on Jan. 3 at St. Barnabas Church, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish on Washington Avenue. Wirtz was honored with a line-of-duty death funeral protocol.

On Dec. 26, Governor Ned Lamont ordered all U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Wirtz.

"The passing of North Haven Firefighter Matthias Wirtz is heartbreaking, and we honor his bravery and courage in responding early this morning to a multi-alarm residential fire, where over a dozen people have become displaced," Lamont said in a written statement. "This is particularly upsetting as it comes at a time of year when families and friends are gathering to celebrate the holiday season. His passing is a painful reminder that first responders work every single day of the year, 24 hours a day, and often miss holidays with their families in order to protect the people of our state. My heart is with his family, friends, and colleagues in the North Haven Fire Department."

Wirtz started his career as a volunteer firefighter with North Haven's North East Volunteer Fire Company #4 in 1996 and was a decorated member of the department. According to a statement by NHFD Fire Chief Paul Januszewski, Wirtz had received numerous letters of commendation over the years and responded to New York City on Sept. 11.