Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: interim fire chief

Pensacola Chief Sues for Retaliation

A white Florida fire chief who was terminated after raising concerns about the treatment of an African American deputy chief by the city’s human resource director, has filed suit in federal court alleging race discrimination and retaliation. Matthew Schmitt served as interim fire chief in Pensacola from 2010 until he was terminated last May.

BWI Deputy Chief Ordered Reinstated

An African American deputy chief who was fired from the BWI Airport last March, has been ordered reinstated and granted back pay by an administrative law judge. Gregory Lawrence, who was serving as the interim fire chief at Baltimore Washington International Airport when he was fired last spring, claimed his was the victim of racial discrimination

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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