Johnson County Fire Protection District Medical Fatality 2025

Johnson County Fire Protection District Captain Vernon Collett died in the line of duty while battling a natural cover initial attack fire Saturday, March 8, 2025. At 1345 the District was dispatched to a reported fast-moving half-acre field fire in rural Johnson County. Captain Collett arrived and began extinguishing the fire when he collapsed. Other District personnel located Captain Collett and began administering care, including CPR and multiple shocks with an AED. Ambulance and air ambulance services arrived on scene and continued care for nearly an hour but were ultimately unable to revive Captain Collett.