A veteran fire officer from St. Louis has died after he was injured battling a fire.
Capt. John Kemper was injured while battling a structure fire in the 3600 block of Pennsylvania Ave. early on July 5.
Kemper was one of four St. Louis firefighters who was transported to the hospital during a 12-hour period starting the evening of July 4 at various fire scenes, St. Louis Fire officials said in a statement Wednesday night.
The U.S. Fire Administration said in a release Thursday that Kemper was taken to the hospital to be treated for a shoulder injury, but it was discovered that he had suffered a more serious undisclosed injury that required surgery. Kemper was released afterward, and while recovering at home he passed away from reported complications of the injury.
Kemper joined the department on June 1, 1993, and was promoted to captain on May 14, 2008.
