Governor Mike Parson has ordered that U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff at all government buildings in Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties and at fire houses across the state Wednesday. It’s in honor of Kansas City Fire Department EMT Billy Birmingham.
He also ordered that U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff at the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City.
According to the Kansas City Fire Department, Birmingham died of COVID-19 on April 13 after responding to several service calls for patients who had tested positive for COVID-19. His death is the first known COVID-19 line-of-duty death of a first responder in the state of Missouri. His funeral will be held today.