Midway Fire loses Div. Chief
BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Manning

M i d w a y Fire District is back to only one chief to carry the load. Deputy Chief Jeff Manning resigned last week, heading back to Orlando where his family is still living.

Manning was hired in September 2006 to help with the increased work load at the fire district. Midway has three fire stations with all paid fire fighters. The department had decided to add an assistant for the Chief and went through several applications. The Chief had hired Manning, who had 28 years firefighting experience in south Florida.

But Manning's wife and son were still in Orlando when he accepted the job in September. He told Gulf Breeze News at the time he was hired that they "unfortunately" had not been able to sell their home there yet, and when it was sold the family would move north to Gulf Breeze. He was living here alone at the time, so he could start his new job.

Fire Chief Stephen Demeter said this week Manning resigned, and headed back to Orlando because his home still had not sold and Manning said it was causing too much strain on the family. Demeter said there would be some restructuring, and he had not decided yet if he would hire another Deputy Chief right away.