Northampton Borough Council and the Northampton Fire Department are looking for answers after the state closed a Workers’ Compensation claim for a fallen firefighter without notice.
Fire Captain Michael Booke passed away while in the line of duty in the fall of 2025 following a cardiac incident during training. Since then, says Barry Frantz, assistant fire chief and president of the Firemen’s Relief Association, Booke’s widow, Donna, has not received any compensation from the state.
“This is nothing to bear on the borough of Northampton,” Frantz told the Northampton Borough Council during their meeting on April 16. “This is a state issue.”…