THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 11, 1996 TAG: 9605110283
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KERRY W. SIPE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The Chesapeake Fire Marshal's Office is investigating telephone solicitors who say they are collecting money for the families of two Chesapeake firefighters who died in the line of duty in March.
The callers are identifying themselves as representatives of the ``Fire Fighter's Association of America.''
Greg Orfield of the Fire Marshal's Office said the calls are being made from a telemarketing company in Virginia Beach.
Chesapeake residents have reported that the callers imply that donations to the FFAA will be given to the Chesapeake Firefighters Memorial Fund for the families of firefighters Frank E. Young, 38, and John R. Hudgins Jr., 32, who were killed March 18 while fighting a fire at the Advance Auto Parts store at 4345 Indian River Road.
The Firefighter's Association of America is not associated with the Chesapeake Fire Department; nor will any funds collected in the name of that group reach the Young and Hudgins families, Orfield said.
He said investigators have not determined whether the Fire Fighters Association of America is a legitimate fund-raising organization, only that it has no connection with the local memorial fund. The FFAA has been traced to a toll-free telephone number at an unknown location in California, Orfield said.
Vince Spanicciati, an investigator in the Office of Consumer Affairs of the state Department of Agriculture, said in a telephone interview Friday that an organization by that name had been reported soliciting in Virginia without a permit. He said a letter was sent to a New Orleans address advising the organization that registration is required.
Orfield said about half a dozen local residents had called local fire officials to inquire about the legitimacy of the telephone solicitations.
Orfield asked that anyone who has been contacted by telephone and asked to make a donation with the understanding that the proceeds would be given to the families should contact the Fire Marshal's Office at 547-6165.
Orfield said the Fire Marshal is not aware of any legitimate telephone solicitation campaign on behalf of the families of the fallen firefighters, though money is being raised locally in other ways.
Pam Gregory of the Fire Department said Friday that $163,749 has been deposited in the Chesapeake Fire Fighters Memorial Fund at NationsBank. MEMO: Donations to the fund may be sent to the Chesapeake Fire Department
Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 13401, Chesapeake, Va. 23325-0401.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT SOLICITATION FRAUD HOAX by CNB