Apopka firefighters to announce vote of ‘no confidence’ in fire chief

APOPKA, Fla. — Firefighters in Apopka will go before the city Wednesday to announce they do not have confidence in their chief’s ability to lead the department.

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The union executive board took a poll following the death of Apopka firefighter Austin Duran.

Duran died after he was crushed by a trailer filled with sand while on the job last year.

Watch: ‘He was strong’: Firefighter Austin Duran remembered after passing from on-the-job injury

Several issues have also surfaced within the department since Duran’s death, including a lack of leadership and improper training.

Reports from the state fire marshal’s office, and a consultant group hired by the city, showed that was the case.

Watch: Apopka firefighter defends decision to resign from committee investigating Austin Duran’s death

Since then, at least two members of the department’s safety committee have stepped down.

85% of Apopka firefighters said they have no confidence in the chief’s ability to lead the department.

Watch: ‘Our hearts are broken’: Apopka mourns line-of-duty death of firefighter Austin Duran

The board said in a statement, “Let us be clear that we don’t feel that fire chief Sean Wylam is a bad person or one that acts with malicious intent, but it has become clear and apparent that he is, and has been, incapable of competently managing the men and women who have dedicated and given their lives in service of the Apopka Fire Department.”

Channel 9 will have a crew at the meeting and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.

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