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ffdfireexplorer
01-07-2005, 12:12 AM
Firefighter Killed In I-95 Crash
DeWolf Was Called In Early To Work

POSTED: 12:08 pm EST January 6, 2005
UPDATED: 5:16 pm EST January 6, 2005

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Investigators said poor road conditions were likely a factor in a crash on Interstate 95 Thursday morning in Portsmouth that killed a Newington firefighter.

Lt. Chris DeWolf, 40, was called to his shift early because other firefighters were called out on a report of smoke. His sport utility vehicle flipped over a guardrail on I-95 while he was driving to the station.

DeWolf's fellow firefighters said they are devastated, and their thoughts are with his wife and children.

"He's got two young kids," Lt. Tom McQuade said. "I can't imagine what they're going through."

"He was a very good worker, a great asset," Chief Roy Greenleaf said. "I couldn't ask for anyone better."

DeWolf worked in Newington as a lieutenant for the past six months. He spent 17 years in Dover as a firefighter and paramedic.

"Chris loved the fire service," Dover firefighter Frank Avellino said. "He was big into training and making sure that people knew their jobs."

Dover Capt. David McLean said he will always remember DeWolf for his enthusiasm from his first day.

"He was so excited on his first run that he banged the window so hard he almost broke it," McLean said. "He wanted us to know he was ready to go."

DeWolf was also a reporter for the national Fire and Emergency Training Network. The job placed him in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001. He was one of the first to get footage of the attack on the Pentagon.

"He was able to get inside the security line and document the destruction, and it was used in the investigation," McQuade said. "He was very proud of that."

Investigators haven't ruled on a cause of the crash. Police said anyone who saw DeWolf's black Dodge Durango with Maine license plates go off I-95 should call them at (603) 679-3333.

http://www.thewmurchannel.com/news/4055020/detail.html

Res343cue
01-07-2005, 12:20 AM
From BillyG / TSL


Hey.....
Many of you may know Chris DeWolfe, a popular fire instructor, fire officer and
FETN program host. Chris, who was with Dover, NH FD but was now with the
Newington, NH FD was tragically killed this morning in a vehicle crash while on
his way to his FD for a call back. Apparently the call back was due to the
weather conditions.
More details when we get them,
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 1-6-05


My condolences to the DeWolfe family, Dover Fire, and Newington Fire.

FiRsqDvr45
01-07-2005, 08:14 AM
I was with Tom last night and will be again today so I will post the wake and funeral arrangements along with relief fund info as soon as they are finalized. Please keep Chris' wife and children in your prayers along with the members of the Newington and Dover Fire and Rescues.

Rest in peace my brother Chris, a kinder more gracious man, I may never meet.

gordoffemt
01-07-2005, 01:45 PM
I have spent many hours at the firehouse watching Chris' series on FETN, "Back to Basics." I always thought that he seemed so personable and just like a regular guy that would be fun to work with. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Chris at FDIC. He proved all my perceptions about him to be correct. He was just a real nice guy, and a firemen's fireman. There is a framed picture in our dayroom of me with Chris at FDIC that day. It now has even greater meaning to me.

God Bless You Lt DeWolf. Your family and your northeastern brothers are in my prayers. I'll do one last Chumley dance for you.

gordoffemt
01-07-2005, 11:51 PM
bump

gracie449
01-08-2005, 12:24 AM
I was so sorry to read this in the news. God rest him, and God be with his family.

SFDFire19
01-08-2005, 12:33 AM
Lt Chris Dewolfe Wake and Funeral Info:

A funeral will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. at Chris's
Church, the Eliot Baptist Church on Route 236 in Eliot. Friends may
visit with Chris's family on Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
to 8 p.m. at the church.

FiRsqDvr45
01-08-2005, 03:11 PM
Funeral Information
Services for Brother Christopher DeWolf are as follows;

Calling Hours and the Funeral Service will both be held at the: Eliot Baptist Church, 912 Harold Dow Highway (Me Route 236), Eliot Me 03903

Calling hours, Monday January 10, 2005, 2p.m. - 4p.m. and 6p.m. – 8p.m.

Funeral Service will be Tuesday, January 11.

All Uniformed Members and Honor Guards are asked to arrive at 12:00 Noon at the Eliot Baptist Church.

Attn: Color Guards, Please notify the PFFNH if you’ll be sending a honor guard.

William J. McQuillen

Secretary-Treasurer

Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire

25 Nashua Road, Unit 17, Londonderry NH 03053

(603) 437-0035, fax (603) 437-8288

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to;

American Cancer Society

Elizabeth DeWolf.

1599 Clifton Rd Northeast

Atlanta, GA 30329

HOTEL INFO

Room can be gotten at a discount by mentioning that you are up for the Lt. Dewolf funeral at the following places.

Anchorage Inn
417 Woodbury Ave
Portsmouth
603-431-8111
$49.95

Best Western
US Rt. 1 Bypass
603-436-7600
$49.95

Comfort Inn
Rt 1 South
Portsmouth
603-433-3338
$63.96

Sheraton Harborside
Downtown Portsmouth
250 Market Street
603-431-2300


As more info comes in I will get it out there....

NJFFSA16
01-12-2005, 03:28 AM
Rest in Peace Chris!

ELIOT, Maine (AP) - Family, friends and firefighters from around
the country gathered at the funeral of a firefighter who died when
his sport utility vehicle flipped over in bad weather last week.
Fire Lt. Chris DeWolf, 40, who lived in Kittery and worked in
Newington, N.H., was remembered at his funeral Tuesday as a family
man and dedicated firefighter.
"For the time that he worked with me, he was my righthand man.
Now he's God's righthand man," Dover Fire Chief Perry Plummer told
mourners at the Eliot Baptist Church.
DeWolf "lit up a room," Newington Fire Chief Roy Greenleaf
said Monday, at DeWolf's wake. "He was always going 100 mph in
different directions."
DeWolf, who worked part-time for the Fire and Emergency
Television Network on its training films and documentaries, went to
Washington in the hours following the terrorist attacks of Sept.
11, 2001. He was among the first to shoot footage at the Pentagon
after a hijacked plane crashed into it.
DeWolf was born in Biloxi, Miss., and attended public schools in
Swanton, Vt., and Portsmouth, N.H. He graduated from Portsmouth
High School in 1983, then earned an associate's degree at Southern
Maine Technical College and his bachelor's degree at Daniel Webster
College.
He began as a firefighter in Kittery, then joined the Dover
department in 1987. He also coached high school and youth hockey.
DeWolf is survived by his wife, Kelly, and two children.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)