Retired Elizabeth fire chief Lou Kelly died early Friday after he fell ill while responding to a fire in Clark last week and was rushed to a hospital.
The Elizabeth Firefighters FMBA Local 9 announced Kelly's death on its Facebook page on Friday morning.
Kelly, 70, was serving as a Union County Mutual Aid Coordinator while at the Dec. 8 blaze.
A final alarm transmission message over the department's radios, a traditional salute when a member passes, said Kelly served the city of Elizabeth proudly for 34 years and was a leader in fire service "throughout Union County and the state of New Jersey."