It happened after commissioners had moved in more than one meeting to fire him, the turmoil stemming partly from discontent over city leadership in the wake of 25-year-old firefighter Austin Duran’s death last summer.

Duran was badly injured when a sand-filled trailer fell on him while he and another firefighter were moving equipment. He died shortly after.

Duran’s family has been fighting for safety protocol change in the department ever since, and calling on key players on the Apopka city roster to resign for not implementing changes fast enough, including Rodriguez.

Duran’s father, Michael Duran, said the resignation wasn’t what he expected.

“I was blown away,” he said. “I think what Mr. Rodriguez was appropriate.”

Michael Duran said he’s also been calling for Apopka Fire Chief Sean Wylam to implement big changes in the department, or resign.

A Gannon Emergency Services report from February said the fire department had major health and safety issues, among other things.

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