After being fired twice, an Orange County firefighter is fighting for his job back.
Matt McMahon was a proud U.S Marine and wanted to serve the community. He applied to be a firefighter for Orange County Fire Rescue.
In 2006, he was hired. After suffering from PTSD, he enjoyed his work until he was fired in 2021.
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“I became a firefighter and an EMT, which is exactly what my pre-employment contract states, so I was not a paramedic [when I started],” he said.
McMahon felt the need to do more, having seen his fellow firefighters sacrifice their lives for the sake of helping others in crisis situations. A spokesperson for the agency and historical data indicate that most fire rescue calls are not for fire but medical emergencies.
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“Orange County Fire Rescue is one of the largest pre-hospital care providers in Central Florida. In an effort to align with the community’s needs and provide a higher level of medical expertise to Orange County’s residents and visitors, the department provides a career path to become a Firefighter/Paramedic within 36 months,” a spokesperson told us in a statement.
A spokesperson stated that 747 firefighters are currently employed by the department, and 614 paramedics. The training cost for the department averages about $9,000.
McMahon stated that he did not pay for any additional training to become a paramedic.
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According to the lawsuit he filed against the county it took him 52 weeks more training and over 100 hours of clinical time to learn advanced medical techniques. This sets him apart from EMTs who have been trained in basic life support.
However, he eventually admitted to Daralene Jones, Channel 9 investigative reporter, that it was too much coming up against horrifying scenes from the medical profession.
“It was a 19-year-old kid, who had decided to take his own life. My son was probably at that point 14, just started his high school years,” McMahon said.
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A few years later, he claimed he was triggered once again by numerous calls that involved tragic deaths in children, including an infant.
“I remember becoming increasingly more anxious with my son,” McMahon said.
McMahon stated that he finally resolved to address his concerns with his supervisors. According to the lawsuit McMahon asked for an accommodation. He requested that his paramedic title be dropped and that he resume his duties as a Firefighter/EMT.
The lawsuit claims that the department initially approved his request, but then changed abruptly.
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“Instead of proceeding with [an] interactive process and discussing other options or accommodations, he was charged with violations of county policy, operational regulations, OCFR rules, and standard operating procedures,” Attorney Rachel Rodriguez wrote.
McMahon was terminated and then re-instated via the grievance process. McMahon refused work on the shift he was assigned to as a paramedic, and a settlement was reached. He was already in therapy, and was finally diagnosed with PTSD by a UCF licensed clinician. UCF is the same university that the county has partnered to help first responders with their mental health.
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“It wasn’t necessarily me I was worried about, it was the citizens of Orange County,” McMahon said, as he stressed to us that his only goal is just to go back to being an EMT only.
A spokesperson for the county wouldn’t talk specifically about McMahon’s lawsuit, but provided this statement:
“Orange County Fire Rescue is one of the largest pre-hospital care providers in Central Florida. In an effort to align with the community’s needs and provide a higher level of medical expertise to Orange County’s residents and visitors, the department provides a career path to become a Firefighter/Paramedic within 36 months. Individuals can obtain their Paramedic Certification free of charge. After completion, they will also receive an increase in their compensation. Orange County Fire Rescue invests in this program as part of its commitment to continue providing full-service emergency medical services, in addition to world-class fire rescue services, to Orange County, Florida.”
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A spokesperson for the department stated in a follow up email that all firefighters who were hired after March 2015 through the pre-employment agreement would be certified paramedics in three years. McMahon joined the fire department in 2006.
“That one time I ask for help, not asking for a dime, not wanting to medically separate and take 30 grand or whatever they’re giving out, I just want to go back to being an EMT … ‘we don’t care about him,’ that’s how I felt,” McMahon said.
Fire Rescue is a paramilitary organisation. We have seen people in this agency get fired for not following orders. McMahon is scheduled to appear in court this month. This hearing could decide if he receives his job back.
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It’s important to note that as part of the settlement agreement after his first terminated, he had to reinstate his paramedic license.
According to the lawsuit, however, nothing hindered him from filing for a hearing in order to withdraw his license due to his PTSD.
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