Flagler Beach’s fire department just went through the kind of month every small city dreads. Five of the city’s 11 firefighters resigned in April, including the deputy fire chief, leaving the beachside department scrambling to fill shifts while City Hall opens an internal review. The resignations, filed within days of each other, wiped out several layers of leadership and forced immediate calls for backup from neighboring agencies. For now, mutual-aid partners and Flagler County resources are covering the gaps while the city recruits and investigates.
Five resignations in a month
City officials confirmed the wave of departures to FOX 35 Orlando, which reported that five employees filed resignations in April and that Deputy Fire Chief Jennifer Fiveash was among them. The exits, submitted in close succession, amount to nearly half of Flagler Beach’s sworn firefighters, according to the station.
What the letters say
Resignation letters obtained by the Palm Coast Observer show the departing group includes the deputy chief, a fire inspector, two lieutenants and one firefighter. The Observer also notes the department is listed online as having 11 firefighters and six support members. In her letter, Fiveash wrote, “After careful consideration, I have determined that continuing in this role is not the right fit,” and set May 8 as her final day.
City manager orders review, leans on county support
In an email to commissioners, City Manager Dale Martin said he and the human resources director were digging into the issues raised in the letters and had interviewed personnel, including Chief Stephen Cox and Fiveash, the Palm Coast Observer reports. Martin wrote that some of the resignations are tied to better opportunities elsewhere, including pay, benefits and long-term growth, while others “reflect significant concerns with professional leadership.” He added that job listings are already posted, with some interest and applications coming in, and said medical response and transport will continue to be handled by Flagler County while other county agencies supplement Flagler Beach’s department.
Long-simmering tensions
The April exits land on top of a longer history of tension and legal fights involving the Flagler Beach fire service, including past firings and settlements that have fueled distrust among some crews. Local reporting over the years has chronicled management disputes and lawsuits that frame why the latest resignation letters lean heavily on concerns about leadership and support. FlaglerLive has detailed some of the department’s earlier controversies.
What it means for residents
City officials say essential emergency services will keep running under mutual-aid agreements and county support while Flagler Beach works to hire replacements and review internal practices. Commissioners and staff are expected to take up staffing and next steps at upcoming meetings as the city tries to restore full capacity and respond to the concerns raised by the firefighters who walked away.
