Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992

09/13/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 13, 2026

Reinstatement of Union President & Captain Philip Smith

The Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992 is pleased to announce the reinstatement of Union President and Captain Philip Smith to the Palatka Fire Department.

Captain Smith's return is a positive step forward for our membership and our department.
We are grateful for the opportunity to move forward and remain focused on serving the citizens of Palatka with the professionalism, dedication, and commitment they deserve.

Local 2992 would like to extend a special thank you to City Manager Cynthia Curry for her leadership, willingness to listen, and efforts toward reaching a resolution. We appreciate her commitment to working toward a positive path forward for the department, its employees, and the citizens of Palatka.

We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the Palatka Fire Department and provide the highest level of service to our community.

Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992
United in Service. Stronger Together.

09/11/2026

The Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992 proudly joins our brothers and sisters across the fire service in remembering those lost on September 11, 2001.

We honor the 343 FDNY firefighters and all first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage, dedication, and commitment to serving others continue to inspire firefighters across our nation.

🇺🇸 We Remember And Will Never Forget.
September 11, 2001 🇺🇸

08/20/2026

City leaders fired a Palatka Fire Department captain and union president earlier this month, despite records revealing positive reviews from his supervisor, the fire chief.

Read more: https://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/local-news/fire-captain-reviewed-positively-before-termination/

08/19/2026

The Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992 would like to congratulate Karl Flagg for Mayor of Palatka on his election victory!

We wish Mayor Flagg continued success as he serves the citizens of Palatka and look forward to working together to support our community.

Congratulations, Mayor Flagg!

08/14/2026

Emergency officials conducted the daring rescue Friday afternoon of a man who was reported to have passed out while working atop a building in downtown Palatka.

Read more: https://www.palatkadailynews.com/articles/featured-stories/firefighters-emts-scale-building-to-rescue-roofer/

08/14/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 14, 2026

Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992 Issues Vote of No Confidence in Fire Chief Taylor

The Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992 announces that on August 3, 2026, its membership conducted a formal vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Taylor. The vote resulted in 22 out of 23 members in favor of the measure.

This action was not taken lightly. The membership cites ongoing concerns regarding the Fire Chief within the department, specifically the fostering of a toxic work environment and a lack of clear direction for the future of the organization. Firefighters and department personnel have expressed growing frustration over workplace conditions and uncertainty surrounding departmental operations.

Despite the seriousness of these concerns, Local 2992 reports that, as of almost 2 weeks following the vote, there has been no response from department or city leadership addressing the issues raised. The absence of communication has further intensified concerns among firefighters and staff, who continue to serve the citizens of Palatka with professionalism and dedication.

The members of Local 2992 remain committed to protecting the safety and well-being of the community. However, they also emphasize the importance of a healthy, supportive, and well-led work environment to effectively carry out their mission.

Local 2992 respectfully calls upon city leadership to acknowledge these concerns, provide transparency regarding the issues raised by the membership, and take appropriate steps to address the issues impacting the fire department and its personnel.

08/07/2026

The Professional Firefighters of Palatka, IAFF Local 2992, are proud to officially endorse Karl Flagg for Mayor of the City of Palatka.

Our members believe strong communities require strong, experienced leadership and a commitment to the people who live and work here. Karl has demonstrated his dedication to Palatka through years of service to our community.

We are confident that Karl Flagg’s experience, integrity, leadership, and commitment to Palatka make him the right choice to serve as our next Mayor.

Professional Firefighters of Palatka
IAFF Local 2992

07/15/2026

06/12/2026

06/06/2026

Today, we pause to remember the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination of the Allied forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Their bravery helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today and serves as a lasting reminder that freedom is never free.

The Professional Firefighters of Palatka Local 2992 proudly honor the heroes of D-Day and all who have served our nation.