Sergeant Ellis and another firefighter had completed set-up and run through testing of a search and rescue course involving hose evolutions in a building under renovation when he collapsed.

EMS was summoned and care was initiated. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Andre Ellis joined the Dixie Suburban Fire Dept in 1999. He rose through the ranks and became a sergeant as well as the main training officer for the Dept. He was its "Fireman of the year" in 2003.

See NIOSH report http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200532.html