By Lauren Brensel
Orlando Sentinel
APOPKA, Fla. — Apopka’s fire chief, who’s come under heavy criticism since a firefighter died after a 2022 work accident, has announced he’s stepping down later this year.
In a resignation letter sent to the Apopka Fire Department last week, Chief Sean Wylam cited no reason for his departure on Oct. 31 but said he was privileged to witness the “department’s growth and resilience, facing numerous challenges together.”
Wylam declined to comment further.
Austin Duran, 25, died July 15, 2022, after sustaining injuries at a fire station — he was pinned underneath a sand trailer that he wasn’t instructed on how to maneuver. His death was recognized in a consultant’s review of the department that said training is “critically important in such a young and inexperienced organization.”
“I’m disappointed that he gets to leave this department and still not take any accountability for what happened with my son,” said Michael Duran, father of the late firefighter.
Since the firefighter’s death, there has been some community support for Wylam’s exit.
Alex Klepper, president of the Apopka Professional Firefighters Association, said 85% of the approximately 100-member union voted no confidence in the chief in February 2023.
“I’ve had plenty of people come up to me over the last year or so and say, ‘I wish I could have changed my vote,’ since he still never in his tenure as a fire chief followed through with a strategic plan,” Klepper said. “It was he would clock in, clock out, and be dead to the world otherwise.
Months later, the Apopka City Council voted 3-2 it had no confidence in Wylam’s leadership. Mayor Bryan Nelson and another commissioner cast the dissenting votes.
Still, Nelson — who appointed him chief in 2019 — said he hasn’t heard any reactions from the community toward Wylam’s resignation.
“I mean a little chatter on social media, but nothing good, bad or indifferent,” Nelson said. “He’s just a wonderful guy that has done a lot for the city of Apopka. We’re happy for what the next chapter brings for Sean Wylam .”
During a council meeting last week, he read aloud some of the chief’s accomplishments — including establishing emergency medical services safety captains in the city.
But Duran said it was his family that urged the city and fire department to implement safety initiatives.
“When the mayor talks about [Wylam’s] contributions to the fire department,” he said, “none of this stuff was initiated by Sean Wylam — zero.”
Nelson said there are no immediate plans for Wylam’s replacement. He said most chiefs are hired internally, in which case the department’s Division Chief Wil Sanchez will likely take over when Wylam leaves.
Nelson said he’s looking for a chief who will “make sure our firefighters are happy, making sure we’ve got the policies in place that will make us safe [and make] sure our community is taken care of.”
Duran said he hopes the next chief will promote safety and advocate for a contract for firefighters, who’ve worked a year without one.
“I tell everybody, ‘My son’s gone. I don’t fight for him. He’s not here,’” he said. “My fight is for the firefighters that are remaining, and I’m not sure why our own fire chief and the mayor — I really don’t know why they don’t get it.”
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