Illinois Fire Chief Collapses at Meeting, Later Dies

Feb. 8, 2008
He has been involved with the fire service for 16 years.

Firefighters in an Illinois township are mourning the loss of their fire chief.

Matthew Hubly, 43, died Thursday several days after being stricken at a fire department-related meeting.

Hubly, chief of the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District, has been involved in the fire service for the past 16 years.

The U.S. Fire Administration reported that Hubly was attending a meeting about fire protection systems at an industrial facility on Feb. 1 when he fell ill. The assistant chief convinced him to allow him to take him to the hospital.

However, he collapsed before they left the facility. He was in cardiac arrest by the time they reached the hospital.

He died Thursday morning.

Funeral Information

Visitation for Chief Hubly will be held Friday, Feb. 15 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a fire department service at 7 p.m. at Clancy Gernon Funeral Home, 1480 W Court Street, Kankakee, Ill.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. at Bishop McNamara High School, 550 West Brookmont Blvd., Kankakee, Ill.

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