Port Arthur fire chief terminated without explanation

Port Arthur Fire Chief Greg Benson tells KFDM 6 News that the city manager has fired him, effective immediately. "I had a one-on-one meeting with Ron Burton at 4 p.m. today," Benson told KFDM. "He said he didn't like the direction in which the fire department was going, and therefore, he's making a change. I asked him specifically what he was referring to, and he didn't provide me with anything." KFDM left a message with Burton and is waiting for a response. Deputy Chief Robert Havens has been named interim chief. He's served more than 30 years with the Port Arthur Fire Department and was one of four finalists for the chief's position in 2021 when Benson was named chief. "I was taking the department in the direction I felt it needed to be," Benson told us. "I worked on implementing changes and making it a professional department." Benson said he would have welcomed feedback from the city manager, prior to his termination. "He never gave me a reason," Benson told us. "Technically, if he was unhappy with something, he should have given me feedback and an opportunity to make changes. If he would have done that, I would have asked him what he wanted to see changed. He wasn't transparent. He did not provide any rationale for the decision." While Benson is considering the next step in his future, he remains positive about the people of Southeast Texas. "I like Port Arthur and the people of Southeast Texas," said Benson. "I've always like being involved in the community."