Orange County fire chief submits resignation

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Fire Chief Otto Drozd submitted his resignation Friday to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

Drozd's resignation will take effect May 31.

Demings appointed Deputy Chief James Fitzgerald as Drozd's replacement, effective May 4, said Kelly Finkelstein, a county spokeswoman.

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The Orange County Board of County commissioners will confirm the appointment May 7, Finkelstein said.

"This will provide a four-week period for the transition of the fire chief’s responsibilities," she said.

Drozd has been fire chief for more than six years. His resignation letter does not offer a reason for his departure.

"We came to an amicable agreement that he would be resigning from the fire department," Demings told Chanel 9. "We would allow him to resign, and that's where we are today."

Demings did not elaborate on the agreement.

"Chief Drozd has done a great job. We can't take that away from him," he said. "He has some other career aspirations, and we wish him well in those endeavors is what I'll tell you."

Drozd declined Channel 9's request for an interview.