Preparations and planning for Hurricane Ian in Key West apparently didn’t go entirely smoothly.

A Sept. 27 altercation at City Hall between Deputy Fire Chief Eddie Perez and Emergency Management Chief Gregory Barroso has resulted in a three-day suspension without pay of three members of the Key West Fire Department. City officials have not disclosed the details of the altercation, but sources close to the fire department have said that it did escalate to a physical confrontation between Barroso and Perez.

City Manager Patti McLauchlin said, “Under city policy, this is considered unbecoming behavior. They each received a three-day suspension. Key West Fire Chief Alan Averette, as their supervisor, was ultimately responsible and also received a three-day suspension.”

The suspensions were announced on Sunday, Oct. 30, a month after Ian side-swiped the Lower Keys and flooded an estimated 400 homes in Key West storm surge waters. 

Barroso had been promoted to the Emergency Management position 30 days prior to the storm. 

The Key West Fire Department was busy during the storm, fighting a devastating fire on Flagle/r Avenue in 50 mph winds that displaced dozens of residents from the apartments above businesses below.

Key West firefighters battle a devastating fire Sept 27 on Flagler Avenue, while winds from Hurricane Ian reached 50 mph. CONTRIBUTED

An additional six fires occurred during and just after the storm, potentially caused by flood waters interacting with electricity. No cause for the Flagler Avenue fire has been announced, and no demolition or repair work has yet begun at the site.

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.