Johnson County fire captain dies while fighting fire Saturday

JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Johnson County firefighter died Saturday in the line of duty, a Saturday evening news release from the Johnson County Fire Protection District said.

According to a Sunday release from the department, Captain Vernon Collett responded to a fire in the 600 block of northeast State Highway Mm in rural Johnson County, Mo around 1:45 p.m. Collett began extinguishing the fire when he collapsed, the release says.

CPR was administered to Collett along with other life saving measures for nearly an hour but he could not be saved.

Collett had served the district for 29 years, serving as a captain since January 2011.

According to the release, this is the first line of duty death for JCFPD.

"We extend our deepest condolences to Captain Collett’s family, friends, and colleagues. We ask that the
community keep them in their thoughts during this difficult time," the release says.

Funeral arrangements are pending, the release says.