Florida fire chief releases heartbreaking message after department loses two employees to suicide

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Helpline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Florida’s fire chief issued an emotional message this week after two firefighters committed suicide over the course of three weeks in January.

Marion County Fire and Rescue Chief James Banta said Tuesday the department is “pained, confused and upset” by the sudden losses of fire medic Allen Singleton on January 28 and fire medic Tripp Wooten on January 9.

Banta said that as a fire chief he feels the same emotions and had “a lot of difficult conversations” with his department after the deaths of fire medics Singleton and Wooten.

Following these conversations, Banta said he recognizes legitimate concerns about low wages, workload, mandatory overtime, lack of sleep, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction, adding that these issues will be addressed.

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Marion County Fire and Rescue Chief James Banta issued an emotional message after two fire medics in the department committed suicide in January.
(Marion County Fire and Rescue Service)

“If the answer was as simple as eliminating mandatory overtime, I would immediately stop the trucks, but I can tell you it goes much deeper,” Banta said.

He asked firefighters to help identify colleagues who are “suffering and in crisis” by paying attention to warning signs.

“I need each of you to be my eyes and ears. I take on the burden of getting us out of this crisis, but I cannot do it alone,” Banta pleaded.

Banta also strongly encouraged the use of mental health resources, including a chaplain, an employee assistance program, and a peer support group.

He added that after Singleton’s funeral on Saturday, mental health teams from the International Firefighters Association would arrive to make recommendations, which would be implemented and followed up.

The Marion County Rescue Service posted an updated photo of their cross with a thin black and red line across the logo, signifying the loss of a member.
(Marion County Fire and Rescue Service)

The IAFF released the following statement to Fox News Digital on behalf of General President Edward Kelly in response to the tragic loss:

“We mourn the loss of our IAFF brothers. Stress factors, including financial hardship affecting personal relationships, work-life imbalance, and substance use, consistently contribute to firefighter suicide. Our Marion County firefighters have twice the workload of larger departments in Florida, with half the workforce. Municipal decisions to reduce the priority of public safety, including forced overtime work, have a negative impact on the quality of life of fire service professionals. The citizens we serve value our contributions; we need politicians to do the same.”

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Banta ended the video with an appeal to those members of the “family” who may be experiencing difficulties:

“If you are watching this and experiencing depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts, please know that we are all here for you. I am here for you. Please don’t give up.”

He also called for working towards a solution using the “strength, determination and resilience of the participants”.

Marion County Firefighter Allen Singleton died by suicide on January 28.
(Marion County Fire and Rescue Service)

Singleton was a six-year veteran of the department. Prior to his hiring on September 12, 2016, he was a member of the 2016 Marion County Fire and Rescue Non-Certified Recruit Academy. He has been described as a proud member of the MCFR/MCSO Special Forces medic team and was a consistent Golden Ax winner in the department’s physical competition.

Marion County Firefighter Tripp Wooten committed suicide on January 9th.
(Marion County Fire and Rescue Service)

The department hired Wooten in December 2006. He was a member of the 2006 MCFR Career Academy class and “spent many years as a member of the ‘Hames Road Hooligans’ at Belleview 18 station.” The post described him as an “amazingly talented” firefighter/paramedic with a sense of humor that brightened the day for everyone who came into contact with him. It is also reported that he never met a stranger.

According to the department’s Facebook posts, Singleton and Wooten are survived by a wife and two children.

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In an effort to prioritize mental health in the fire industry, the IAFF opened its Center of Excellence in Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. According to a summer 2022 report, the program has been pushed to near capacity over the past five years, with more than 2,200 participants treated and released.

A second facility is expected to open on the West Coast within the next few months.