Northampton, PA, Fire Captain Dies after Swim During Training

Capt. Michael Booke, 57, died Nov. 12 of a cardiac issue suffered Oct. 25 following a 200-yard swim.

Nov. 24, 2025

A Northampton fire captain, who suffered a cardiac issue following a swim, died earlier this month.

Capt. Michael Booke, 57, collapsed Oct. 25, after completing a 200-yard swim during a water rescue course.

Colleagues immediately rendered aid and transported him to a local hospital where he died Nov. 12, the U.S. Fire Adminstration reported Monday.

Booke had been with the department for 27 years.

The retired Pennsylvania State Police trooper also was a fire marshal.

To date, 70 firefighters have died in the line-of-duty, USFA records show.

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Susan Nicol

News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.