Father, Friend, Firefighter

Dalton Lane is an engineer/paramedic with Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District. Dalton has spent his entire professional life serving the people of Teller and El Paso County and now he and his family are in need of your help.

Dalton was recently diagnosed with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC), a relatively rare type of thyroid cancer only affecting approximately 1-3% of thyroid cancers; about 1000 cases a year. The fire department holds physical testing and health screenings once a year - which helps to give firefighters a baseline of their physical fitness and health. During our 2020 health evaluation, an ultrasound showed a nodule on Dalton’s thyroid that turned out to be malignant. At the time of the test, Dalton was on his final days of deployment on the Mullen Fire in Northern Colorado/Southern Wyoming. He almost missed his appointment…thankfully he was demobilized and sent home in time. We are all glad that he made it back in time and that his cancer was discovered.

Dalton underwent surgery on December 4th to remove his thyroid and some lymph nodes in the region. He is now resting at home with his family and starting a long recovery phase. 

Dalton is the loving husband of Tessa Lane, his high school sweetheart from Woodland Park High School, and father of four beautiful kids: Jonah Bree (13), Jillian Paige (12), Ellis Louise (9), Pike Wade (7).

Dalton began his firefighting career with Cripple Creek Fire Department in 2006. In 2011, Dalton decided to go back to school and get his Paramedic certification in order to offer a higher level of medical care to the many visitors and residents of Cripple Creek, CO. He chose to take on this education obligation at the same time he was renovating his home in Woodland Park, CO, working multiple jobs, and caring for Tessa while they were preparing to welcome Ellis in to the world. Dalton joined the ranks of Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District in 2014 and has been serving the people of Woodland Park and the surrounding area, ever since. Dalton has worked for Southwest Teller County Ambulance, Cripple Creek Fire Department, Broadmoor Fire Department, and Northeast Teller County Fire Department. 

Dalton and his family will be going through recovery for quite some time and will need your help and support while they continue to get treatment in the coming months. Tessa will be very busy caring for the kids, caring for Dalton, and managing some of her part-time work. In order to lessen the burden and financial hardship of his healthcare deductibles, as well as some of the unforeseen costs and expenses of treatment, we are asking for anything you are willing to donate to keep this family afloat through this holiday season and in to 2021.