Former DC Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe Found Dead At Home

WASHINGTON, DC — Former Washington, DC Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe has died at 61, according to DC Fire and EMS Department.

Ellerbe was found dead inside his home in southeast DC by first responders shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday. A family member called 911 after Ellerbe was found unresponsive, authorities said.

Ellerbe, who was born and raised in DC, was appointed fire chief by then Mayor-Elect Vincent Gray in January 2011 and served in that role until July 2014. He joined DC Fire and EMS in 1982 and briefly left to become Fire Chief in Sarasota, Florida, in 2009.

During his time as chief, Ellerbe was a champion of the DC Fire and EMS cadet program and took seriously his role as a mentor.