Affton fire captain dies while on duty

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Affton Fire Protection District is mourning the loss of one of their own, as the district announced Wednesday that Affton Fire Captain James "Jim" Cova, who had served the district for over 23 years, died while on duty.

On July 9, Cova, 54, of High Ridge, Missouri, was found unresponsive while on duty at the firehouse after completed several emergency responses throughout his shift.

The district says an official cause of death is not yet known.

"Captain Cova was a true hero, committed to serving our community and his family. His loss is felt deeply by all of us." said Interim Affton Fire Chief Aaron Rhodes in a release from the district.

Affton Fire Protection District says it will have a memorial service to honor Captain Cova and his family. Details will be announced in the near future.