AFFTON, Mo. — Firefighters at the Affton Fire Protection District are grieving after finding one of their own dead at their firehouse on Tuesday, the district said in a news release on Wednesday.
Fire Capt. James "Jim" Cova, 54, was found unresponsive at the firehouse after completing several emergency responses throughout his shift, the news release said. An official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Cova was "the calm to the storm," Lt. Jason Brice told 5 On Your Side. "A devoted father and husband, he was quiet but a great leader. Always a calm demeanor. It's a tremendous loss."
“Capt. Cova was a true hero, committed to serving our community and his family,” Interim Affton Fire Chief Aaron Rhodes said in a statement. “His loss is felt deeply by all of us.”
The district plans to hold a memorial service to honor Capt. Cova and his family, the news release said. Details will be shared in the near future.
This is a developing story. This article will be updated with the latest information as it is released.
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