Kehoe orders Johnson County buildings to fly flags at half-staff for fallen fire captain

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe ordered U.S. and Missouri flags at Johnson County government buildings to fly at half-staff on Friday in honor of Vernon Collett.

Collett, 60, was a captain at the Johnson County Fire Protection District who died on Saturday while responding to a fire in the 600 block of Northeast Route MM, according to previous reporting. He collapsed “while extinguishing a controlled burn that had grown out of control,” a press release from the governor’s office says.

The half-staff order also applies to the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City, the release says.  

Vernon’s funeral will also be held Friday, according to his obituary.

“Vernon Collett’s full-time job was with the Johnson County Road and Bridge Department, but he also had a calling to serve his community as a volunteer firefighter with the Johnson County Fire Protection District,” Kehoe said in the release. “For over 29 years, Captain Collett responded to countless fires, vehicle crashes, and other emergencies. He died fulfilling the responsibility he had taken on in order to protect others. We will remember Captain Collett as a model public servant who selflessly supported his community.”