Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Dept.: Auxiliary Is Withholding Donations

The Chief of the Vedauwoo Volunteer Fire Department [VVFD]  is accusing the Vedauwoo Fire Department Auxiliary of withholding $78,000 in funds that were donated by the public.

That's according to a news release from Chief Matt Isborn. The release includes the following: "Since April 2025, the Auxiliary’s leadership has not communicated with the VVFD. Additionally, the Auxiliary continues to hold approximately $78,000 in funds that were raised by the public with the understanding the money would directly support the VVFD. Despite repeated attempts to contact the Auxiliary by certified mail, emails, text messages, and phone calls, the Auxiliary leadership has provided no response, no transparency and no financial support for essential department needs such as personal protective equipment."

The release goes on to say the Auxiliary recently purchased Christmas trees and will be selling them, adding "VVFD wants the public to know that, based on these facts, the department has no reason to believe it will receive any funding from the Auxiliary’s 2025 Christmas tree sales. Public purchases of these Christmas trees are therefore unlikely to provide support for VVFD equipment, training, operations, or firefighter safety."

Efforts to contact the  Auxiliary for comment on Wednesday morning were not immediately successful.

The Department Was Hit By Mass Resignations In April

In April of 2025 most of the then-members of the VVFD resigned, citing what they claimed were were the unjustified suspensions of the Chief and Assistant Chief by officials with Albany County Fire District #1.

They also claimed that fire district officials didn't investigate harassment allegations. They also said they were not allowed to respond to fires in their area.

The Wednesday news release says "Since April, the VVFD has undergone a successful rebuilding effort and is now fully operational, staffed, and responding to all calls within the service area and throughout Albany County. The department has strengthened training, readiness and volunteer numbers."