Orange County Fire Chief Anthony Rios Resigns After Budget Hearing Exchange with Commissioner Mayra Uribe
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Fire Rescue Chief Anthony Rios has resigned, effective Friday, following questions raised during a recent county budget workshop about department vehicle purchases and firefighter compensation.
Rios announced his resignation after acknowledging that an answer he gave during the July 15 budget work session regarding a county vehicle purchase “could only be perceived as inaccurate.”
The exchange occurred when Orange County Commissioner and Orlando mayoral candidate Mayra Uribe questioned Rios about where fleet purchases were reflected in the department’s proposed budget.
“Don’t you have a new car, too?” Uribe asked.
“I do not,” Rios replied.
Uribe continued by explaining she believed she had seen county officials with new vehicles and wanted clarification on how fleet purchases fit within the department’s spending plan.
Speaking Tuesday, Uribe said her questions were never about the chief personally but rather about budget priorities while firefighters represented by the union were still awaiting years of negotiated back pay.
“My question was more geared to prioritizing the back pay for the firefighters that have been waiting for months,” Uribe said. “I never expected to be given—not an accurate answer.”
Uribe said she expected the issue could have been resolved with an apology and clarification rather than a resignation.
“I just would have assumed that he would have apologized, corrected it, and we would have moved forward,” she said.
In his resignation letter, Rios accepted responsibility for his response.
“Although the purchase complied with all county procurement policies and procedures, my response did not fully communicate the complete context and, as a result, could only be perceived as inaccurate,” Rios wrote.
“As Fire Chief, I understand that intent does not diminish impact, and I accept full responsibility for my words.”
Rios called serving as Orange County Fire Rescue chief “the greatest honor” of his career.
Mayor Jerry Demings appointed Rios as fire chief in April 2025 after more than two decades with the department. Rios began his career with Orange County Fire Rescue in 2000 as a firefighter and paramedic before rising through the ranks.
The resignation comes shortly after Orange County firefighters secured a new labor agreement following more than three years of stalled contract negotiations.
While county officials have emphasized that the vehicle purchase complied with procurement rules, the incident has renewed discussion about government transparency and spending priorities as local leaders continue debating public safety budgets.
