Huntersville, Charlotte Firefighter Dies Of COVID-19

HUNTERSVILLE, NC —The Huntersville Fire Department and Charlotte Fire Department announced Saturday that firefighter and Huntersville resident Jeff Hager had passed away due to COVID-19. Hager served both departments.

Hager, 46, died on Friday after after battling the illness since Aug. 23, the department said. Hager's wife Amee remains in the hospital due to the disease. According to a GoFundMe page, the couple have four children, ages: 14, 13, 7 and 6, who currently are being cared for by other family members.

An HFD spokesperson said Hager had served the department since 2013 as a paid part-time firefighter/EMT and active volunteer firefighter, and he'd been a full-time member of the CFD since 1997.

In a statement, the HFD said Hager often could be found at one of its fire stations when he was off from his full-time job in Charlotte.

"Jeff's smile and quick wit were contagious and he had many friends both in the fire service and throughout our community," the HFD said in the statement. "Jeff was an excellent firefighter and an even better friend, father and husband. His loss leaves a large void here in our department and in our community - he surely will be missed."

Prior to Hager's passing, the GoFundMe page was set up by a fellow firefighter to "provide financial aid to help with groceries, clothing and any other expenses associated with (the) children's immediate needs."

The page had a goal of $10,000, and had raised $59,569 as of Monday evening.