CalFire Academy investigating cheating allegations
By Robert Handa, NBC Bay Area
CalFire is taking measures to clean up its reputation after a state investigation indicated that some academy cadets may have been cheating.
CalFire is in the midst of getting ready for the winter, and El Niño, and officials definitely want to put the scandals behind them. But they also say they believe some of the allegations about firefighting training are misleading. The agency wants to dispel any public doubts that some firefighters were not properly trained.
A statewide California Highway Patrol investigation indicated some academy cadets said instructors helped students, including manipulating tests, in order to graduate as many cadets as possible. The investigation also revealed there were reported incidents of Instructors drinking alcohol on the job and sexual harassment.