Next steps: Orlando fire chief resigns after 3 years of service
BAY CITY COUNCIL ALSO DID. THE CITY OF ORLANDO HAS A NEW INTERIM FIRE CHIEF, AS THE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO REGAIN ITS LOST ACCREDITATION. MAYOR BUDDY DYER APPOINTED A FIREFIGHTER WITH 24 YEARS OF SERVICE TO REPLACE THE OUTGOING CHIEF, WHO’S STEPPING DOWN. WESH TWO JUSTIN SCHECKER LIVE OUTSIDE CITY HALL. JUSTIN, THE PEOPLE YOU TALKED WITH TODAY SAY THEY’RE READY FOR ORLANDO FIRE TO BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER. THAT’S RIGHT. BOTH THE ORLANDO FIREFIGHTERS UNION PRESIDENT, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS TOLD ME THEY’RE NOT WORRIED THAT THIS LOSS IN ACCREDITATION WILL AFFECT CALLS FOR SERVICE. AND BOTH OF THEM ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HAVING A NEW CHIEF WHO HAS ALREADY SERVED IN THIS CITY. IT’S A PLEASURE OF MINE FOR THIS TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I GET TO DO IN THIS POSITION, INTERIM FIRE CHIEF JASON REVOLT APPEARED AT MONDAY’S ORLANDO CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO HONOR A LIEUTENANT WHO IS RETIRING AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES OF SERVICE. I’M CONFIDENT THAT HIS 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR STRONG LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TRANSITION. THIS TRANSITION BEGINS AFTER CHIEF CHARLIE SALAZAR SUBMITTED HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION LAST WEEK. THE ORLANDO FIREFIGHTERS UNION SUPPORTS THE NEW PROMOTION FROM WITHIN. IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE HAD AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE RISE UP THROUGH THE RANKS. CHIEF REVOLT SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER HERE. REVOLT TAKES OVER AS THE INTERIM CHIEF JUST WEEKS AFTER THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXCELLENCE REVOKED. ITS ACCREDITATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING ALTHOUGH ACCREDITATION IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY AND DOES NOT IMPACT OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE EXTERNAL VALIDATION MODELS TO ENHANCE DEPARTMENTAL EFFECTIVENESS FOR THE BENEFITS OF RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND BUSINESSES OF THE CITY OF ORLANDO. DISTRICT TWO COMMISSIONER TONY ORTIZ SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I’M MORE. THE SOLUTION AND MORE FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT WE WEREN’T TOLD, SO WE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING AND NOT GET TO THIS POINT. UNION PRESIDENT DOUG SABIN SAYS CHIEF REVOLT IS COMMITTED TO RESTORING THE ACCREDITATION AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE IN A GROWING CITY. IT’S SOMETHING THAT THE NEW FIRE CHIEF IS GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH. CITY HALL ON BEING ABLE TO TO PLAN THAT OUT FOR THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED. IN ORLANDO, FIRE IS STILL RANKED IN ISO CLASS ONE DEPARTMENT. FEWER THAN 1% OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE HAVE THAT DISTINCTION. FOR SUPERIOR LEVEL OF FIRE PROTECTION, COVERING ORANGE COUNTY. LIVE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO.
Next steps: Orlando fire chief resigns after 3 years of service
Updated: 6:51 PM EDT Oct 20, 2025
Orlando fire Chief Charlie Salazar has submitted his resignation after three years of service. “This decision has not come easily,” Salazar said in his letter of resignation. “Serving the City of Orlando and leading the Orlando Fire Department for the past three years has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”Salazar says he plans to move to Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has appointed Deputy Chief Jason Revoldt as the interim fire chief. “I am confident that Chief Revoldt’s 24 years of experience in the department will provide the foundation for strong leadership as we make this transition,” Dyer said in a statement.Both Dyer and Salazar have expressed their confidence in the future of the OFD and Revoldt.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Orlando fire Chief Charlie Salazar has submitted his resignation after three years of service.
“This decision has not come easily,” Salazar said in his letter of resignation. “Serving the City of Orlando and leading the Orlando Fire Department for the past three years has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Salazar says he plans to move to Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has appointed Deputy Chief Jason Revoldt as the interim fire chief.
“I am confident that Chief Revoldt’s 24 years of experience in the department will provide the foundation for strong leadership as we make this transition,” Dyer said in a statement.
Both Dyer and Salazar have expressed their confidence in the future of the OFD and Revoldt.