Countywide

Firefighters Ratify Contract: Orange County firefighters have narrowly voted to ratify a two-year contract calling for a 9.5% pay increase. Larry Simcoe, president of the union representing more than 400 county firefighters, said the 51% vote voiced their dissatisfaction with the county’s refusal to provide dental benefits to the union and an extra holiday now awarded to other county employees. John Sibley in the county Personnel Office said the pact with the firefighters, which is expected to be endorsed by the Board of Supervisors next Tuesday, winds up negotiations on two-year contracts with 15 bargaining units representing about 9,000 county workers.