A city firefighter faces a felony theft charge after he allegedly forged several doctor's notes to receive paid sick time off last year. Bethlehem officials said it cost more than $4,500 to pay James Delgrosso Jr., 40, of Bethlehem for the missed time and for someone to cover his shifts. Delgrosso was also charged Monday with forgery for the notes he allegedly submitted to get time off from February through November, according to Northampton County court records.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Allentown Morning Call

A Layton firefighter who was severely injured during SWAT training this week is now recovering in the hospital. Brian Cunningham’s wife called it a “freak accident” during a simple training exercise. The team was practicing busting open doors with small explosives when one of them backfired. Cunningham is now recovering after major reconstructive surgery on his face.
- PUB DATE: 8/3/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Abc4

The massive wildfires burning across California have highlighted long-standing strains on the state’s mutual-aid system, which is designed to quickly rally support from nearby fire agencies to help protect homes and save lives. From Tuesday through Saturday last week, requests for more than 900 fire engines from commanders around California went unfilled, according to state officials, leaving emergency responders in many communities with far less help than they had hoped for.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: San Francisco Chronicle

The president of the Syracuse police union said it's ridiculous that Ted Ackerman would fear police officers might shoot him as he hid after a fatal hit and run last year. Ackerman, a city firefighter, fled the scene of a fatal accident he witnessed, then hid in the basement of Pastime Athletic Club while police banged on the door upstairs.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Syracuse Post-Standard & Syracuse.com

It took a legal battle lasting more than two years for Tanja Vidovic to return to her job as a Tampa firefighter in early April. But after only three months back at Tampa Fire Rescue, her future at the department is in doubt again. Vidovic, who won a federal discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the department in December, is now accused of being untruthful and creating a hostile work environment, her husband Jared Vidovic told the Tampa Bay Times.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Tampa Tribune and TBO.com