In a rare and significant decision, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has unanimously voted to censure Scott Freitag, the fire chief of the Central Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (CAFMA). The vote, taken during the IAFF’s 57th annual convention, saw 2,520 delegates from across the country unite to rebuke Freitag’s leadership.
This censure marks the first public reprimand of an Arizona fire chief by the IAFF in more than 30 years.
The decision to censure Freitag stemmed from several critical concerns, including his alleged failure to implement modern cancer prevention measures, refusal to establish a four-person minimum staffing per engine as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, and accusations of persistent bullying of firefighters and paramedics under his command.
“Chief Freitag has consistently failed to protect his community and the firefighters of the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority,” stated Edward Kelly, General President of the IAFF. “Respect is essential for a healthy labor-management relationship. His unanimous censure by IAFF delegates sends a clear message: conduct like Freitag’s has no place in Prescott Valley.”
Stephen Gilman, Vice President of the IAFF’s 10th District, which includes Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Hawaii, stressed that the censure was not taken lightly.
“Formal actions like this are only pursued when behavior—such as ignoring safety measures and intimidating employees—is truly egregious,” Gilman said. “Among the many fire districts across Arizona, Scott Freitag’s actions stand out for all the wrong reasons. His conduct damages both the public and the firefighters under his command.”
Freitag, who has served as a fire chief since 2013 and played a key role in forming CAFMA in 2016, now faces serious questions about his leadership. Despite CAFMA’s budget nearly doubling from $23.9 million in FY 2016-17 to $47.1 million in the recently passed FY 2024-25 budget, concerns over staffing shortages and working conditions for firefighters have escalated.
Further fueling the controversy is the sharp increase in Freitag’s compensation over the years. His salary has risen from approximately $121,000 in 2016 to $195,000 per year, along with significant retirement and insurance benefits. This disparity between his personal financial gain and the declining morale within the fire department has intensified criticism.
Don Jongewaard, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, highlighted Freitag’s salary increases as a symbol of the deeper issues within CAFMA. “Every homeowner in the Quad Cities contributes to Chief Freitag’s substantial salary, including a significant raise over the past eight years,” Jongewaard said. “What many may not realize is how Freitag has eroded the morale of the fire department he leads with an iron fist, making the fire service less efficient across Prescott Valley while doubling CAFMA’s budget.”
In a recent development, the PFFA issued a cease and desist letter to Freitag, demanding an end to his alleged false and damaging accusations against the organization. These included labeling the PFFA as a “criminal organization” and accusing the firefighters’ association of “insurance fraud.”
“Firefighting and responding to emergencies are demanding jobs,” Jongewaard added. “Having a fire chief who makes that job even harder while mismanaging taxpayer resources is simply unacceptable.”
The unanimous censure of Chief Freitag by the IAFF underscores the deep dissatisfaction within the firefighting community regarding his leadership. As CAFMA navigates this controversy, all eyes will be on how these issues are addressed moving forward.
