Updated: Listed by the USFA on 10 March 2025.
Captain Vernon Collett collapsed while fighting a natural cover fire. Despite nearly an hour of lifesaving efforts, Captain Collett was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Age: 60
Rank: Captain
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: Mar. 8, 2025 1:45 PM
Date of death: Mar. 8, 2025
Cause of fatal injury: Stress/Overexertion
Nature of fatal injury: Cardiovascular Event/Heart Attack
Activity type: Incident Command
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2025 currently is 17.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2025.
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”
Earlier:
By Bill Carey
10 March 2025
JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. — The Johnson County Fire Protection District is mourning the loss of Captain Vernon Collett, 60, who died in the line of duty on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Collett collapsed while battling a natural cover fire in the 600 block of Northeast State Highway MM in rural Johnson County, FOX 4 reported.
Despite nearly an hour of lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, KMBC reported.
Collett’s death marks the first line-of-duty death in the district’s history.
Photograph courtesy of the Johnson County Fire Protection District/Facebook.
Data Not Drama 