According to a report from FOX35, Sean J. Wylam, the chief of the Apopka (FL) Fire Department (AFD) may soon be looking for work after a contentious city council meeting Wednesday discussing the death of 25-year-old firefighter Austin Duran. At least two city council members suggested Wylam resign or be fired.
Duran was injured on the job on June 30, 2022, after a 4,500-pound sand trailer fell and pinned him down, landing on his legs and abdomen. He later died on July 15. Duran was named the AFD’s Firefighter of the Year Wednesday.
The city as well as the AFD accepted the findings of a report on proposed departmental changes commissioned from Gannon Emergency Solutions (GES), whose original report sent to the AFD listed arguments and disagreements, largely over semantics.
In a summary of major issues found, GES included a summary of major issues at AFD, including the following:
- A history of inadequate safety, health, and wellness programs.
- Young department.
- Incomplete organizational structure.
- Lack of strategic planning.
- Lack of accountability.
GES’s five key recommendations in the report included increasing the safety of training and receiving funding for health and safety improvements.
GES also recommended appointing a change manager, which Wylam proposed handling himself. The city council turned down that idea.
The AFD has made a few changes, including the hiring of 18 more firefighters and two assistant chiefs.
At the previous city council meeting, 85% of Apopka’s firefighters joined a vote of no confidence in the Chief, asking him to step down.
In the eight months since Austin’s death, the Duran family is now demanding improvements to the department. Wylam says he’ll be sending a new strategic plan for the AFD on April 3rd. An external stakeholder meeting will then follow.
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