Kyle Walcott, a former firefighter from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, faces charges for allegedly forging 16 fire service training certificates. These certificates, purportedly issued by the University of Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, were used to misrepresent his qualifications while volunteering with the Paxtang Fire Company and Middletown Fire Department. The University of Maryland confirmed the certificates were fraudulent, leading to Walcott's resignation from the Paxtang Fire Company and the revocation of his membership at Middletown.
This case marks the second incident of forgery within the Paxtang Fire Company in recent months. In December 2024, Steven Bartholomew, another former firefighter, was charged with similar offenses, including forgery and reckless endangerment. Bartholomew allegedly drove fire vehicles without a valid license and used forged certificates to claim advanced training.
The Paxtang Fire Company has been under scrutiny following these incidents and other controversies. In 2022, the borough council removed the company from service and attempted to evict it from its firehouse. However, a jury ruled in January that the fire company could remain in the municipal building.
Paxtang Fire Chief Jeremy Saul stated, "Upon uncovering these fraudulent actions, we immediately collaborated with local law enforcement to investigate the matter thoroughly." Walcott's preliminary hearing is pending, while Bartholomew awaits trial.