Vernon Collett, 60, collapsed while fighting a field fire in rural Missouri Saturday afternoon. Collett had been with the ...

Johnson County, Missouri, is mourning the loss of Captain Vernon Collett, who died on Saturday while battling a brush fire.

Johnson County Fire Capt. Vernon Collett was laid to rest Friday, with more than 100 friends, family members and fellow firefighters there to honor him.

Johnson County Fire Protection District Captain Vernon Collett died in the line of duty while battling a natural cover fire.

A Johnson County Fire Protection District Captain died in the line of duty while battling a fire near Valley City on Saturday ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Johnson County, Missouri, Fire Protection District captain died in the line of duty Saturday afternoon.

Capt. Vernon Collett, a lifelong resident of the county he served, was with the Johnson County Fire Protection District for more than 29 years at station No. 6 near Valley City. He was 60 years old.

Vernon Collett died while in the line of duty this weekend while fighting a natural fire in a rural part of Johnson County.