Great moments in Sacramento Firefighting, from Sacramento Bee, Jan. 6, 2005 This season's hottest spectacle... Desperate Firefighters, from Sacramento Bee, Jan. 26, 2005
Editorial cartoon backgrounder
In July 2004, 7 members of the Sacramento Fire Department (Sacramento is the capital of California, USA) were suspended and were being investigated along with other policemen and firefighters for sexual assault at an event known as "Porn Star Costume Ball." The firefighters attended the event using two fire trucks while on duty, although they were not responding to any call, and never compromised city services at that time. When investigations became public, other allegations emerged. A woman has claimed that fire crews would park outside bars and nightclubs offering women joyrides.
Resignations and terminations followed, but civil cases have been lodged against the offending personnel. The attorney for one of the complainants, a former female firefighter, has said, "There is a lack of supervision and a lack of management in this department. It shows a pattern where this department does not take care of its own if the people who are doing the conduct are part of the 'good old boys' club."
Countless good works by the fire department, such as toy drives and food drives, as well as the standard fire protection and fire safety services, are rendered worthless when personnel engage in non-sanctioned and dangerous activities such as joyriding to nightclubs and drinking while on duty. In the Philippines, a number of government and volunteer fire stations and brigades have also been reported to engage in these activities. Whatever your personnel want to do should be fine, but not when on duty, and not using organizational resources. Whether government, corporate or volunteer, do not let your firefighting group come to this.


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The following article was taken from Firehouse.com, March 23, 2005:

Department Victimized by Embezzlement Gets New Federal Grant // LAZY ACRES, Ark. (AP) -- A volunteer fire department victimized by embezzlement of more than $65,000 -- including about $36,000 in federal funds -- has been awarded a federal grant of $50,000 to buy a new 1,000-gallon pumper truck.// 'We had applied for the grant about a year ago before the allegations came out that our treasurer had stolen more than $65,000 of the fire department's money,' said Jim Opel, president of the Lazy Acres Volunteer Fire Department.// The department was notified last week that it would get the new grant from the federal Homeland Security Department, Opel said.// Angella Ann Dickerson, 48, former treasurer of the department in this northern Marion County community, was arrested Feb. 11 and charged with theft, obtaining a signature by fraud, issuing a false financial statement and falsifying business records.// Authorities allege Dickerson altered computer records to hide deficient bank accounts. Marion County Sheriff Carl McBee said she had also written at least 16 checks totaling more than $38,000 from the fire department bank accounts to the Blue Water Resort, which he said Dickerson owns.


They're lucky to have Homeland Security support. Other FD's aren't as lucky.

But wait, there's more. The following article was taken from Firehouse.com, October 12, 2005:

Ex-Three Rivers Fire Chief, Son Arrested in Mississippi // PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) -- The former chief of the Three Rivers Volunteer Fire Department has been arrested on embezzlement charges, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said. / In a related development, Byrd said the man's son has been charged firing a gun into the home of a witness in his father's case. / Charles Cunningham, 45, was arrested Tuesday on charges of embezzlement for allegedly using county gasoline and department equipment for personal use after Hurricane Katrina. He is also accused embezzling fire department funds for his personal business, Mississippi Emergency Response Training and Consulting Inc., the sheriff said. / Byrd said the charges involve the alleged theft of at least $200,000 in gasoline, equipment and cash. He said the case remains under investigation. / Cunningham's son, Dakota Cunningham, 19, was arrested on charges of drive-by shooting at a firefighter's home and felony malicious mischief for allegedly shooting several tires on fire trucks at the Three Rivers station, authorities said. / Investigators said the firefighter, whose name was not released, is a witness in the embezzlement case against Charles Cunningham. / Jackson County Judge Larry Wilson set the bond for Charles Cunningham at $10,000 and a total bond of $55,000 was set for Dakota Cunningham. / Dakota Cunningham, authorities said, was on active duty with the Mississippi National Guard at the time of his arrest. / County Fire Coordinator Ray Watson said Three Rivers firefighters asked Charles Cunningham to step down as chief on Sept. 10, but he refused. Two days later, county officials told Cunningham to step down after the investigation began. / Byrd said the investigation began after he received a complaint about Charles Cunningham allegedly using county gasoline and fire department equipment and money for his own use.


Obviously, some people will stop at nothing to cover up their mistakes.


Just One More Thing...

If you find your fire brigade in the list below, it means that your incorporation papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission (aka "SEC papers" or Articles of Incorporation") has been revoked for non-compliance with reportorial requirements for at least 6 years. To verify that it is your fire brigade, check the corporation number that follows the corporate name, and date (or year) of incorporation. This list was culled from the "Corporations with Revoked Certificate of Registration" PDF files found at SEC's website, specifically at http://www.sec.gov.ph/list_revoked.htm .
Dumaguete Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  CEO0001731 1973
Filipino Chinese Firefighters Foundation of Dvo Inc  DS00003210 1973
South San Nicholas Fire Prevention Assn Inc  51148 1973
Toril Volunteer Fire Brigade Foundation Inc  DEO0005184 1973
Manila Zone 28 North Binondo Fire Prevention Assn Inc  64395 1975
Pasay Volunteers Fire Prevention Assn Inc  63461 1975
West Binondo Fire Prevention & Civic Welfare Assn Inc  63761 1975
Assn of Phil Volunteers Fire Brigades Inc  66336 1976
Ongpin Gandara Tetuan Fire Prevention Assn Inc  70834 1976
Soler Volunteers Fire Prevention Center Inc  68744 1976
Iloilo Filipino Chinese Fire Prevention Assn Inc  76757 1977
Filipino Chinese Youth Volunteers Fire Dept Inc  84143 01/24/1979
Gandara Volunteers Fire Brigade Inc  87178 07/06/1979
Quiapo Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade Inc  89875 11/28/1979
Lucena Integrated Filipino-Chinese Fire Brigade Inc  90254 12/14/1979
Quiapo Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  91767 03/12/1980
Pasay Market Fire Brigade Inc  98463 04/13/1981
Metro Manila Volunteer Fire & Disaster Brigade Inc  98498 04/14/1981
San Jose Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Prevention Inc  99020 05/19/1981
Davao Volunteers Fire Brigade Inc  99333 06/05/1981
Fire Brigade Communication Group Inc  99652 06/25/1981
Divisoria Allied Fire Prevention Assn Inc  100817 09/10/1981
Fire Protection Assn Inc  100852 09/14/1981
Quezon City Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  101872 11/13/1981
West Tondo Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  102363 12/16/1981
North District Volunteers Fire Brigade of QC Inc  102657 01/11/1982
Hometown Volunteers Fire Brigade Inc  104626 05/04/1982
Central Sto Cristo Fire Prevention Assn Inc  105484 06/22/1982
Central Quiapo Filipino Volunteers Fire Brigade Inc  110538 02/28/1983
Integrated Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade Inc  113976 07/01/1983
Panzer San Juan Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  123278 1984
Filipino Chinese Community Volunteers Fire Brigade  127560 07/18/1985
Paco Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  128279 08/27/1985
Iligan Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  128452 09/05/1985
Valenzuela Fire Prevention Assn Inc  132720 05/21/1986
Chin Po Tong Volunteers Fire Brigade Foundation Inc  137797 01/28/1987
Sta Cruz Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  141327 06/11/1987
Assn of Manila Blumentritt Volunteers Fire Brigades  143190 08/08/1987
Assn of Fire Chiefs and Fire Fighters  146822 12/08/1987
Assn of Manila Center Sta Cruz Volunteer Fire Brigade  147283 12/29/1987
Catbalogan Fil-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Assn  150497 04/21/1988
Quezon City Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Assn Inc  154287 08/15/1988
Olongapo Filipino-Chinese Fire Prevention and Community  154758 08/29/1988
San Juan Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  154881 09/01/1988
Security Communication and Fire Brigade Inc  161071 03/10/1989
Gagalangin Volunteer Fire Prevention Assn Inc  163005 05/02/1989
Volunteers Fire Brigade of Pasay City Inc  165063 06/23/1989
Filipino Chinese Firefighters Foundation of Davao Inc  DEO0003210 10/16/1989
Makati Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  183506 11/09/1990
Amateur Fire & Civic Org Inc  184177 11/28/1990
Volunteers Fire Brigade Foundation of Pasay City Inc  184717 12/12/1990
Alpha Fire Brigade & Brotherhood Assn Inc  185739 1991
Divisoria Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Fighter Assn Inc  197723 1991
Malate Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  185664 1991
Southern Manila Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  195852 1991
Islamic Volunteers Fire Brigade Assn Inc  DN92000390 1992
Quezon City District I Firefighters Volunteer Assn Inc  AN92000629 02/13/1992
Cotabato Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  DN92000279 04/13/1992
Masbate Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  AN92002345 07/03/1992
Pasay Libertad Taft Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  AN92003543 09/10/1992
Mt Apo Volunteer Firefighters Foundation Inc  DN93000527 1993
Tacloban Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  AN93003033 07/08/1993
Assn of Free & Friendly Firefighters Inc  AN93004654 11/05/1993
San Juan Eagles Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  AN93004822 11/16/1993
Fire Emergency Paramedic Assistance Group Inc  AN94000100 01/10/1994
Zamboanga Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade Foundation Inc  GN94000057 02/10/1994
Spear Rescue Volunteer Firebrigade Inc  AN94001039 03/15/1994
Morong Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  AN94001315 04/04/1994
Cagayan de Oro Volunteer Fire Brigade Foundation Inc  HN94000199 08/31/1994
Koronadal Filipino Chinese Firefighters Foundation Inc  DN94000665 11/29/1994
Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade Inc  EN94000434 12/13/1994
United Fire Fighters of the Phils Inc  AN95002042 06/02/1995
Manila Blumentritt Fire Prevention Assn Inc  AN95002371 06/27/1995
New Divisoria Mall Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  A199600563 06/11/1996
Tutuban Fire Volunteer Assn Inc  A199600983 06/19/1996
Smhng Upper Bicutan Water Delivery & Volunteers Fire Brigade Assn Inc  AN96001652 05/09/1996
Assn of Phil Volunteer Fire Brigade Foundation Inc  A199701443 04/22/1997
Binondo Fire Volunteer Search & Rescue Brigade Inc  A199712849 07/24/1997
Bambang-Masangkay-Abad Santos Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  A199719720 10/17/1997
Manila DJ Zone 31 Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc  A199722163 11/25/1997
We think that it includes all SEC-registered volunteer fire brigades that are over 6 years old.