Assistant fire chief urges help as firefighter's widow waits for workman's comp and food-bank van delayed

Assistant Fire Chief Barry France asked the Borough of Northampton council on the record to help the family of Captain Mike Book, a volunteer firefighter who died after a training-related heart attack in November, saying the widow has yet to receive state workman's compensation payments.

France told the council that the State Fire Commissioner's office has "declared it a line of duty death" and that Book "will be honored" at a ceremony in Emmitsburg. But France said the family has been told the state claim was closed and that Donna Book "has to hire an attorney to get the claim open," a step that would require additional expense to the widow.

The council heard France say he had worked with the family and with Representative Zach Mako's office to try to reopen the claim and that the borough's fire department's insurers were "gaining headway" but that no funds had been paid to the family as of the meeting.

Why it matters: council members and the public emphasized the financial and community impact when a volunteer firefighter dies in the line of duty, and they pressed for clarity on why a state-declared line-of-duty death would have a closed claim and no immediate payments to the widow.

Council reaction and next steps: Council member Trevor Stone told France he would follow up to determine "whether it was an open claim that was closed or it was denied," and other members urged escalation. Council member Glasser recommended reaching out beyond local contacts, including Representative Mako's office and local media, to accelerate action.

France also raised an operational concern affecting the Northampton Area Food Bank: a donated van the borough purchased for the food bank has been delayed because the borough has not yet received the vehicle title, and the van is currently at the dealer for a recall fix. France said volunteers are using personal vehicles to meet rising demand and described the van as "a great asset" the food bank needs for pickups and deliveries.

No formal council action was taken at the meeting to change the status of the state claim or to direct staff to a specific remedy; France said he would "keep you guys posted" and members asked the mayor and staff to continue pressing the state and relevant offices for resolution. The solicitor reported that an earlier executive session had discussed only real estate matters and that no votes were taken in executive session.

What's next: Council members asked staff and elected officials to follow up with the Book family and with state offices; France and council members said they would report back to the council when more information is available.