HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor this week released audit reports for four volunteer firefighters’ relief associations in Chester County, spotlighting significant compliance failures at one organization while finding no issues at the other three.
The most serious findings were tied to the Keystone Valley Firefighters’ Relief Association, where auditors cited five separate violations of state law and prior audit recommendations, including unauthorized expenditures, failure to correct repeat deficiencies, and lapses that could put future state aid at risk. The audit concluded that Keystone Valley did not comply “in all significant respects” with the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association Act during the period from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2024.
According to the report, Keystone Valley failed to update its bylaws as required by law, did not obtain its own Pennsylvania sales tax exemption number despite repeated warnings, and did not maintain a complete and accurate inventory of equipment purchased with public funds. Auditors also cited a failure to disclose a related-party transaction involving the sale of a vehicle to a member and identified $425 in unauthorized training expenditures for non-volunteer staff. Because several of the findings were repeats from prior audits, the Auditor General warned that the association’s future state aid allocations could be withheld unless corrective action is taken .
In contrast, the other three Chester County relief associations reviewed — Westwood Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association, Modena Firemen’s Relief Association, and East Whiteland Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association — were found to be in compliance with applicable state laws and requirements governing the use of foreign fire insurance tax funds.
The Westwood association passed a full compliance audit, with auditors noting that it had corrected a prior issue and complied with all significant legal and administrative requirements during the audit period . Both Modena and East Whiteland underwent limited procedures engagements, a narrower review, and auditors reported that nothing came to their attention indicating unauthorized spending or improper handling of state aid funds.
Volunteer firefighters’ relief associations receive public tax dollars intended to support equipment, training, and benefits for volunteer firefighters. State law requires those funds to be managed separately from affiliated fire companies and spent only for authorized purposes.
All four audit reports are public records and are available through the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General website.
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