Charlotte County Fire Chief Resigns Amid Department Challenges
Charlotte County officials and residents are raising questions following the sudden resignation of Fire Chief Jason Fair on Friday. County leaders have not provided a reason for his departure.
The announcement was made in an internal email from County Administrator Hector Flores to the public safety team. The message confirmed Fair’s resignation and named Deputy Chief Matt McElroy as acting fire chief, effective immediately.
In the email, Flores acknowledged ongoing challenges within the department, including communication issues, staffing shortages, and mandatory overtime. He said the county remains committed to addressing these concerns and improving internal operations.
According to Union President Berzowski, firefighters had expressed concerns about leadership and department communication months ago. While no formal vote of no confidence was taken against Chief Fair, union members had raised issues that they felt were not adequately addressed.
Berzowski indicated that the decision for Fair to step down may help move the department forward. He also expressed optimism about the appointment of Acting Chief McElroy, noting that initial meetings with him were productive and focused on collaboration and problem-solving.
Acting Chief McElroy has not yet commented on the leadership transition. The county stated that no further details will be released regarding personnel matters. It remains unclear when a search will begin for a permanent replacement, but officials have emphasized that fire department operations will continue without interruption.