LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Jefferson County firefighter has died after a long battle with cancer.
Captain Richard Gossman was 51 years old.
He worked in the former McMahan Fire District for 32 years. His career started as a volunteer firefighter until he medically retired in 2016.
Gossman's cancer was believed to be related to his job as a firefighter. Officials say his death is expected to be ruled a Line of Duty death.
He is survived by his wife and children. His son Joshua currently serves as a career firefighter for the Jeffersontown Fire Department.
Gossman is the eighth Jefferson County firefighter to die from cancer within the last three years, and the fifth whose cancer death is believed to be job related.
Jefferson County Fire officials said Gossman's last wishes were to increase firefighter and public awareness of the cancer epidemic in the profession.
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