'Well-rounded, good guy': Dover Fire Chief Troy Dettinger remembered, died in line of duty

Dover borough Fire Chief Troy Dettinger died in the line of duty on Nov. 30, and Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered commonwealth flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the late fire chief.

Union Fire & Hose Co. # 1 recently shared the news of Dettinger's passing on its Facebook page. He had been a dedicated member of the fire department for 29 years, the post states. He was 55, according to his obituary.

"He was passionate about serving his community and surrounding stations," the fire department's post states. "Troy will be tremendously missed. Rest in Peace Chief."

Acting Fire Chief Gwainn McKeever said Dettinger joined the fire department in July 1993, went through the training and rose through the ranks over the years. He has served as the volunteer chief for the borough for about eight years.

Dettinger worked well with other fire chiefs from neighboring departments, including Dover Township, Strinestown and Wellsville. He also attended the York County Fire Chiefs Association meetings.

Dettinger worked part-time as a paid driver for the West York Fire Department and was employed by TheFireStore in Abbottstown.

"He was well known in all of York County," McKeever said. "It's going to be hard to fill the shoes that he laid forward."

More:As volunteers dwindle, response times grow at York County volunteer fire departments

Dettinger responded to a cardiac arrest call early in the morning on Nov. 30, and then went home, McKeever said. Dettinger later was later found in his home.

McKeever recalled how Dettinger spent time with his family and liked to go camping. His obituary says that he also enjoyed four-wheeling, fishing and hunting.

Dettinger was a "well-rounded, good guy," McKeever said.

"If you needed help with something, he was always there to help you," he said.

Fire companies from around York County and beyond as well as members of the public have been sharing their condolences with the borough fire department on social media.

Dover borough is a small, tight-knit community, and everybody knows somebody in the fire department, McKeever said.

Services have been set. A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Emig Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc. in Dover. A Celebration of Life is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9 at the fire house.

The governor has ordered that commonweath flags should be flown at half staff until sunset on Monday, according to a news release.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Dover fire chief Troy Dettinger dies, flags ordered at half staff