After 27 years with the Corpus Christi Fire Department, Deputy Chief Kenny Erben is headed to Washington to lead Spokane County Fire District 8.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi Deputy Fire Chief Kenny Erben has been selected as the next fire chief for Spokane County Fire District 8 in Washington state, ending a 27-year career with the Corpus Christi Fire Department.

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Erben will retire from CCFD as he transitions to the new role, where he will oversee fire and emergency operations for the growing district northeast of Spokane.

“We are proud to announce that Deputy Chief Kenny Erben has been selected as the fire chief for the Spokane County Fire District 8 in Washington State,” the department said in a statement.

Erben, a U.S. Army veteran, completed a 19-month overseas deployment as a combat engineer during Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving with CCFD.

Erben began his career on B-shift at Station 1, serving on Medic 1, Engine 1 and Truck 1. He later promoted to driver on Engine 5, where he worked in the department’s hazardous materials program.

After promoting to captain on Engine 5, Erben transitioned into the rescue program, working on Engine 3 and Rescue 3. As a battalion chief, he served as Battalion 1 and Battalion 2 and acted as the department’s Special Operations Coordinator.


For the past nine and a half years, Erben served in operations leadership roles, first as assistant chief and later as deputy chief.

He also spent nine years with Texas A&M Task Force 1 as a rescue specialist before serving as a task force leader, medical unit leader, and chair of the Wildland Medical Support Committee for the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force. Erben also served as Large-EMS chair on the CBRAC board.

CCFD officials say he was active in labor and management leadership, serving as a union steward, health and benefits trustee, and first vice president of Local 936.

Officials said that in the community, Erben is a graduate of Leadership Corpus Christi Class 44, spent 11 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi, and served for a decade on the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

“We know you will continue your strong commitment to service and leadership,” the department said.