The fight for accountability continues

Under a setting sun on a warm summer evening, Apopkans met at Fire Station One to participate in a vigil to remember Austin Duran, an Apopka firefighter whose life was cut short at the age of 25 in an accident that many believe could have been prevented. 

On June 30th, 2022, Austin Duran was operating a two-ton sand trailer that toppled and crushed the lower half of his body. He lay in a hospital bed for the last two weeks of his life before succumbing to his injuries.

The road in front of Fire Station One was blocked off so that people could gather safely in the lot directly across the street from the station. Friends and family of Austin Duran were present, while others who showed up did not personally know him but felt sympathy for him and his loved ones.

Alex Klepper, the Apopka Professional Firefighters Association President, laid out the challenges he has faced in coming to terms with the loss of his friend and colleague.

“At times, it feels as though a tidal wave of emotions and overwhelming heat is dragging me beneath the surface, making it difficult to breathe, sleep or think,” Klepper said. “I haven’t yet found a way to control these tides.”

One of Klepper’s struggles manifests in his reflection on how Austin Duran lost his life. Klepper said that if Austin’s death was inevitable that he wishes he could have gone out “in a heroic sacrifice, running fearlessly into a burning building, like you see on TV, to save someone’s life.” He quoted an excerpt from Ray Bradbury’s book, “Fahrenheit 451,” which helped him realize Austin’s tragic death was not without purpose.

“…Everyone must leave something behind when they die… something touched by your hand, so your soul has somewhere to go when you depart…” Klepper said. “…It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you leave a lasting impact, transforming something with your touch into a reflection of who you are.”

Michael and Gail Duran, Austin’s father and mother, stepped in front of the large crowd with tears in their eyes and spoke about the loss of their son. Michael Duran said that it’s impossible to articulate how the Duran family is truly feeling.

“Sometimes we feel like we’re on an island because we’re one man down, and it never changes for us,” he said. “People say all the time that it gets better. I argue that it’s gotten worse… If you want to call him or text him, visit him at work, those days are forever gone for us.”

Gail Duran, finding the strength to get the words out, said that it’s important for her family and the community to look back on Austin’s life positively and remember all the good things about him. 

“…Thank you, guys, for everything you do and for being his family and loving him as much as we do,” she said. “And I know you feel the pain like we do.”

After speeches concluded, attendees lined up to take a red or white flower to lay at Austin Duran’s memorial. Whether tears streamed down their cheeks or they tried to remain stoic, their sorrow was undeniable. 

Debbie Richardson and Angela Bell-Deems, who work at Three Odd Guys Brewing, were at the vigil and said that although they didn’t personally know Austin Duran that they are “loyal” to Apopka’s firefighters and that they feel like “family.” Richardson and Bell-Deems said the firefighters frequent the brewery, and they hear talk about the change they want to see within the department.

“Things aren’t resolved yet for this poor family,” Richardson said. “…I don’t even know what they feel like, as a parent, to lose their child in an accident that should have never happened.”

Many in the line wore Austin’s Army t-shirts, which Klepper said were created to bring people together under an “umbrella” of the same cause. The slogan came about while Austin Duran was in the hospital, where he was surrounded by friends and family. Klepper said that for as long as Austin fought for his life that they would also fight, and after his death, they continue to fight for the firefighters who put their lives on the line.

Klepper said that Austin’s death spurred the beginning of a positive change in the Apopka Fire Department that was desperately needed. He said that they are fighting “tooth and nail” to have improvements made to safety protocol and better training and that their fight is affecting the change they seek. 

“It’s a scary world with a bunch of grown men doing scary things, and we need to recognize that and help them, build them into what they can be,” Klepper said. “It has been an uphill battle.”

Michael Duran said it’s not easy for him to sum up his relationship with his son in a speech or a letter and that he wishes everybody had the opportunity to know Austin as he and Gail Duran did. Michael Duran has made it his mission to be at Apopka City Council meetings and ask the City Commissioners to take charge and hold accountable the people whose negligence allowed the accident to happen.

“Until the City releases me and accepts accountability, ingrains these cultural, foundational, operational changes into the department, I’m going to have to stay engaged,” Michael Duran said. “I do that for our family, I do that for Austin, and I do that for every single firefighter that still works there.”

Michael Duran said that before the accident, he saw Austin and that he talked with him, hugged him, and that half an hour later, he and his family’s lives were turned upside down. He said being forced to fight for accountability from the City and the safety of Apopka’s firefighters has prevented the Duran family from reconstructing their lives and beginning the healing process.

“I have not even begun. We haven’t even begun…” he said.