Ewing, Ill. – The fire chief for Ewing-Northern has passed away.

57-year-old Monty Rea died in the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler.

News 3 reports he had been working on the district’s first-ever full-scale disaster drill.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.