WAYNE COUNTY, N.Y. – Friends and family of Dan DeWolf, 52, paid their respects at a wake at New Life Assembly of God in Lyons on Sunday.

DeWolf, was a member of the Fairville Volunteer Fire Department, which serves the northern part of the Town of Arcadia. He went into cardiac arrest at the scene of a house fire on Fairville Maple Ridge Road on Jan. 22.

Like all firefighters in Fairville, DeWolf was a volunteer. For 32 years he sacrificed his own safety to help others.

When DeWolf went into cardiac arrest, EMTs and other first responders rushed to the home on Fairville Maple Road in attempt to save his life. Despite CPR and other life-saving measures, DeWolf later died at a nearby hospital.

At Sunday’s Celebration of Life ceremony, DeWolf’s ex-mother-in-law, Jessie Collins, said that he was one of the kindest and most giving people one could ever meet and would go out of this way to do anything to make sure his neighbors were safe.

“He was one of the most wonderful, greatest men that walked on earth. I am his ex-mother-in-law so I know him and I appreciated him and still saw each other after the marriage,” Collins said.

Arcadia Town Supervisor Daw Piscotti said that DeWolf was one of America’s many silent heroes, sacrificing everything to save lives out of the goodness of their hearts.

In his honor, donations may be made to Newark Assembly of God Church, 1088 Hartnagle Road, Newark, N.Y. 14513, or Fairville Fire Department, 2963 Route 88, Newark, N.Y. 14513.

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