Making a difference: Firefighter Dan Forror

Dan Forror was born with a servant heart. “It may sound cliché, but I always wanted to help people,” he said. The eight year veteran was serving as Acting Officer the morning of December 17 when a mutual assist call came in about a house fire in Sheffield Village, Forror’s hometown.

Forror and fellow firefighter Kaile Bauhof were assigned to search for victims inside the burning structure. Upon entry, visibility was poor from thick smoke, and they needed to make their way around insulation and drywall that had collapsed to the floor. After locating a victim in a bedroom, they carefully passed him through a window where he received lifesaving care from other firefighters, including Wilson. After refilling their air tanks, Forror and Bauhof re-entered the house where they located a second victim whom they also got to safety that morning.

Forror was young when he set his sights on a career as a firefighter. After graduating from Brookside High School, he attended Lorain County Community College to pursue an associate degree in fire science, eventually attending Cuyahoga Community College’s Fire Training Academy in order to earn certifications as both a firefighter and paramedic.

He worked part-time for both Sheffield Village Fire Department and EMH before joining Sheffield Lake full-time nearly nine years ago.

His heroism, and that of the two Sheffield Lake firefighters who were with him that morning, earned them the department’s Medal of Gallantry. At ceremonies where the medals were awarded, Fire Chief David Novak said about Forror, “We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated employee.”

Forror also serves on Sheffield Village Council. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2019, then successfully ran for election to a four year term in 2021. He is married and has a son and daughter.