Scott County firefighter to help lay Affton Fire Protection District to rest

AFFTON, Mo. (KBSI) – Local firefighters will help the Affton Fire Protection District lay Captain Jim Cova to rest. 

Captain Cova passed away unexpectedly last week. He was 54 years old. He was found unresponsive while on duty at the fire house, according to the fire department.

He responded to several emergencies during his shift, but they still don’t have a cause of death.

Scott County Rural Fire Protection District’s Jeremy Perrien is the SEMO coordination for the Missouri Funeral Assistance Team. He will serve at services Thursday morning. He says the main focus of the team is leadership in relation to line of duty deaths. Perrien says it is a humbling experience.

“It’s overwhelming,” said Perrien. “It’s just I’ve been a part of the funeral assistance team for a few years now and it’s a feeling like no other. It’s that fire department’s worst day as well. We are here to be at the fire department’s worst day as well we are always here to be at somebody’s worst day and the funeral team was put here to be at the fire department’s worst day to help them orchestrate things.”

Cova leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. in Affton which is in south St. Louis County.