Member of Safety Group Eyeing Policies After FL LODD, Quits Amid Roadblocks

In July, an Apopka firefighter died of injuries sustained when a trailer of sand fell on him at his fire station.

A report pointed to lack of training led to the incident that claimed Austin Duran, WESH reported.

A committee was formed to suggest what safety measures should be implemented to prevent another incident. 

IAFF Local President Lt. Alex Klepper quit the committee recently saying pushback from officials is stalling the work.

Klepper wrote in his letter of resignation: "Ever since this committee started looking into Austin's accident, we have been met with pushback to the point that the fire administration appears to be bending over backward to exclude us, its own safety committee, from doing a simple post-incident critique."

Also, District Chief Jerold Maynard, who chairs the committee, said in another letter that the post-incident critique was something he advocated to complete, but he claims: “...we have been instructed by the City Attorney and the Fire Chief that we cannot proceed forward at this time."

Michael Duran, the firefighter's father, says he's frustrated.

"We can't even get the safety committee to last five months. We already have senior firefighters that are dropping out,” he told a reporter. "This incident needs to be investigated thoroughly and completely."

City officials can't comment due to a pending suit.