An Arvada firefighter and EMT has died as a result of cancer related to his work, according to fire department officials. His passing is being considered a line-of-duty death, as the department says the cancer was connected to burn injuries he sustained after rescuing a fellow firefighter.

Kevin "KJ" Jacovetta died on Friday, the Arvada Fire Protection District said in a statement on Monday. He joined the department as a volunteer in 1988 and became a full-time firefighter in 1999.

In 2011, Jacovetta was severely burned while rescuing another firefighter from a house fire , for which he earned the Medal of Valor. After recovering from his injuries , he returned to duty, but complications from those injuries led to his retirement in 2021 and his cancer diagnosis in 2023.

Jacovett

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