Benjamin Barksdale has resigned as the chief of Orlando Fire Rescue nearly two months after his arrest in North Carolina on assault charges.

Orlando City Fire Chief Benjamin Barksdale was arrested Tuesday on a warrant out of North Carolina where he is accused of assaulting a woman.

The Orlando Fire Department has suspended its chief after a misdemeanor arrest warrant was issued for him in North Carolina.

City of Orlando Fire Chief Benjamin Barksdale said his 13 men that are in Surfside with the Central Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 4, have been assisting in the rescue efforts.

Hurricane season is already here and Central Florida leaders want to make sure all residents are prepared.

Orlando, Fla. – The city of Orlando opened a brand-new fire station in the Rosemont community on Monday. Station 9, known as “Outpost Nine,” is the new home to 30 firefighters on Center Loop off of Shader Road. The 12,000-foot building has private bunk rooms and restrooms for crews and it even includes a secure room for female firefighters. AdThe chief said the new fire station could serve as an example for other fire departments in the future. “We have had three other departments that have come in and toured the station and looking to do the same thing...absolutely,” he said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – One week ago, the Texas-Louisiana border was ravished by Hurricane Laura, which lashed the Gulf Coast, leaving more than a dozen dead, many injured and numerous buildings and homes destroyed. The team was deployed to some of the hardest-hit areas impacted by Hurricane Laura, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm. [READ MORE: ‘A time to pick up:’ Hurricane-hurt Louisiana begins cleanup | Red Cross of Central Florida deploys volunteers to assist Hurricane Laura victims]“Our initial assignment was to that of Lake Charles. During their mission, task force four discovered extensive wind damage to homes and buildings. So we want to thank them so much for that,” Jimmy Madriaga, a task force member, said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Fire Department demonstrated steps it is taking to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and to protect the public and it’s firefighters and paramedics. The department’s Health and Safety Division is working closely with the Florida Department of Health to ensure that first responders are equipped to treat patients suffering from flu-like symptoms or respiratory illnesses. A unique tool that the Orlando Fire Department uses and demonstrated was this Aeroclave unit. The fire chief says the Aeroclave is utilized whenever the firefighters or EMTs respond to an emergency involving someone with flu-like symptoms. Firefighters also want to remind people that call 911, to let dispatchers know if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms.