Firefighter Fatality

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Thomas “Todd” Lange

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 60

Gender: Male

Status: Career

Years of Service: 32

Date of Incident: 02/05/1978

Time of Incident: Pending

Date of Death: 05/20/2011

Fire Department: Pittsfield Fire Department

Address: 74 Columbus AVE, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Fire Department Chief: Robert Czerwinski

Incident Description: Firefighter Lange passed away from complications resulting from Hepatitis that he contracted through a documented exposure to an infected patient on an EMS incident more than 20 years ago.

Incident Location: 617 Hancock RD, Pittsfield, MA

Funeral Arrangements: 05/23/2011

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Thomas “Todd” Lange, Pittsfield Permanent Fireman’s Benefit Association, c/o Pittsfield Fire Department, 74 Columbus AVE, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Thomas “Todd” Lange at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/.

To date, 35 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 31 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and four from previous years’ incidents.  Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm.