JCFPD lieutenant dies after 4-year battle with brain cancer

Published 6:23 pm Saturday, October 24, 2026

Johnson County Fire Protection District Lt. Ben Burd died Saturday, Oct. 24, following a four-year battle with brain cancer.

Burd, 32, had served the fire protection district for 12 years, and was promoted to lieutenant in 2022. He began his career assigned to Station 4 in Knob Noster and transferred to the district’s training and safety division in 2025.

Burd also served many years in the U.S. Air Force at Whiteman Air Force Base.

“Ben dedicated 12 years of his life to this district and the communities we serve,” JCFPD Fire Chief Larry Jennings said in a statement. “He grew with this organization, from a firefighter to a lieutenant helping prepare the next generation of firefighters.”

Burd is survived by his wife and two young children.

Funeral and memorial services are pending.

“Our hearts are with his wife and children,” Jennings said. “We are proud of Lt. Burd’s service and deeply saddened that his life ended far too soon.”