Amherst Fire Chief James Wilhelm dies at 72 following battle with cancer

Amherst Fire Chief James Wilhelm has died following a "lengthy, courageous battle with cancer," the department confirmed Friday.
Family and officials say Wilhelm passed away this morning at Mercy Health Lorain Hospital's New Life Hospice center. He was 72 years old, having lived in the city for his entire life.
"The last line in Chief's bio on our website reads, 'my love for the Amherst community and my passion for the fire service motivates me each and every day,'" the department wrote in a Facebook post. "If you talked to chief just once, you know there is not a truer statement."
Wilhelm served Amherst's all-volunteer department for 47 years, including the last seven as chief. His crew credits him with improving conditions for workers, such as acquiring new radios and safety equipment as well as two new fire engines currently in the process of being built.
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