Robert Griffin
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A former Americus fire chief has been suspended with pay from his job in Tarpon Springs, Fla., after admitting to City officials that he responded to a fire after he had been drinking.
Stephen R. M. Moreno III, who voluntarily resigned as chief of Americus Fire and Emergency services in 2005, to take the job as fire chief in Tarpon Springs, was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 20.
Officials say firefighters responded to a mattress fire the night of Jan. 14.
Moreno acknowledged that he had been out socially when the fire call came in, but said a significant amount of time had passed since he had consumed alcohol.
The home's owner, Dr. Frederick Roever, died in the fire.
After Moreno's admission, scathing complaints from fellow firefighters came into City Hall. They say the chief gave conflicting orders, which endangered himself and others.
According to reports from other fire officials at the scene, Moreno showed up in civilian clothing and began issuing orders that contradicted what firefighters had already been ordered to do, creating confusion at the scene.
One report read, “I noticed someone walking through the scene without any protective gear on which turned out to be Chief Moreno. He ordered us to move our hose line to side Alpha where Palm Harbor Units already had hose lines working. I smelled alcohol on his breath as he was ordering us to move our hose line.” The report also cited six safety concerns that the firefighter had which included: The smell of alcohol on the breath of Moreno, Moreno in civilian clothes with no designation of position in the fire scene, directing crews without being part of the Incident Command System (freelancing), no radio to communicate with command, not letting crews properly rehab, and having Moreno’s wife walking through the fire scene.
Moreno’s wife was at the scene of the fire, as stated in the report. The report reads, “Mrs. Moreno sat on the front bumper of E70, smoking a cigarette, and then started to walk amongst the hose lines while trying to make small talk with firefighters, distracting them from tasks. Mrs. Moreno smelled of alcohol as well in addition to the slurred speech.”
Another report stated of Moreno, “his actions resulted in confusion for everyone involved including outside mutual aid agencies.”
A report sent to the Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue from the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue detailed the confusion that Moreno caused at the scene. The report reads, “The chaos on this scene was made only worse by Moreno’s actions and demeanor which placed all personnel on the fireground at a much greater health and safety risk.” The report went on, “I have received letters of complaint from every Fire Officer from my organization that was on the scene who are basically speaking for the 15 Palm Harbor Fire Rescue personnel that were there.”
Moreno is a 27-year veteran of the fire service. His career began as a college student dispatcher in an early student assistance program sponsored by the U.S. Congress that was designed to assist local governments in filling their needs. Upon completion of his college degree, Moreno was employed full-time by the Brunswick Fire Department in Brunswick, Ga. During the course of his 14-year career with that department, he was promoted through the ranks to the position of deputy chief.
On Aug. 16, 1993, Moreno was appointed chief of Americus Fire and Emergency Services for the City of Americus. During his career with the City, the department lowered its Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating two levels, resulting in lower insurance premiums to Americus' citizens. Also during his tenure in Americus, Moreno was given stellar ratings in all of his yearly performance reviews. The sterling marks that Moreno received on his reviews in Americus painted a picture of the fire chief as a “team player” who “possesses strong leadership skills, and whose strongest trait is his ability to train, motivate, coach, and empower his employees.”
The only write-up or warning that Moreno received until his resignation from the post in 2005, was on June 19, 1995, when he reported himself for entering a burning building without wearing any turnout gear or a breathing apparatus. Moreno writes in the letter to the City, “I did what needed to be done to save the bed ridden man inside.” Moreno went on to write in the e-mail, “I know it seems weird, but if I am to have jurisdiction over the rules, then I must also abide by them or suffer the consequences.”
In the wake of his actions, Moreno will soon learn the consequences as an investigation into the matter is completed. A press release of Friday read, “The City will not make any additional statements concerning this matter until such time as the investigation is complete.” The release did state that Moreno had been placed on administrative leave with pay effective Jan. 20.
