Charleroi fire chief warns of deceptive fundraising

Robert Whiten Jr. says his department isn’t affiliated with Volunteer Firefighter Service in Texas.

Local fire departments heavily depend on generous support from the communities they serve, but scams that span across the country have impacted the Charleroi Fire Department.

It’s not a new problem, and there are more solicitations every year from groups claiming to be fire agencies or organizations.

Chief Robert Whiten Jr. is fed up, and he wants to make sure residents are cautious when choosing how to support their local fire company, especially when requests come from an unfamiliar fire organization.

Recently, Whiten opened his mail and found a from the Volunteer Firefighter Service, with a mailing address for P.O. Box 131567 in Houston, Texas. It’s the same letter he and other residents have received in the past.

The mailer encourages donors to sign the “thank you” card in a return envelope along with their donation.

The mailer said the notes would be combined with others and given to volunteer fire departments to show their appreciation.

Whiten said it’s easy to be fooled because people often want to support their local first responders.

However, the letter is filled with ill intent because his department isn’t affiliated with the organization and he doesn’t believe any others in the area are.

Money given to the group isn’t guaranteed to benefit local firefighters.

It’s not the first time solicitation has started to circulate from the organization in Texas.

At least once a year, there have been various mailers — particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic — to support the organization and firefighters across the country who were working during the pandemic.

“Here’s another fire agency out of Texas trying to get people to donate,” Whiten said. “Please do not donate to that organization, and donate to your local fire departments.”

Charleroi VFD is currently hosting one of its bi-annual fund drives that residents can support.

Mailers from Charleroi VFD were sent out in March, and the response so far is lower than it has ever been.

“It’s done terrible,” Whiten said. Charleroi VFD has two fund drives each year, and the response has been much lower than the expected 30%.

“The fund drive is way below what it was last year,” Whiten said. “(It’s probably going to be) the worst year in about the last 20. A lot of the good businesses that used to donate don’t donate anymore for whatever reason.”

Whiten said the fire department hosts many fundraisers and events throughout the year, including tickets, pizza nights and its annual fish fry. Still it depends heavily on the fund drives.

“Every donation we get (through our fund drives) goes back into the buildings, apparatus and helps us pay insurance premiums in case something happens to one of our firefighters or the equipment that we use,” Whiten said.

Local departments typically don’t solicit donations through a third-party company.

Letters like the one Whiten received can be verified by calling your local department. Callers can also ask how to support local firefighters directly or get information any upcoming fundraisers or events.

“Just remember a new fire engine costs a million dollars and we have not had a new one since 2007,” Whiten said. “To outfit one firefighter costs around $12,000.”