East Norwich Fire Company Audit Finds Fuel Inventory Issues

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A state audit of the East Norwich Volunteer Fire Company Number 1 found that officials did not adequately monitor fuel inventory, resulting in over 2,900 gallons of fuel worth $7,603 going unaccounted for between January 2023 and November 2024. The audit also found issues with record-keeping, including drivers incorrectly documenting or failing to record odometer readings.

Why it matters

Proper monitoring and accounting of fuel usage is critical for volunteer fire departments to ensure taxpayer funds are being used responsibly and that vehicles are being maintained safely. This audit highlights the need for stronger internal controls and oversight to prevent potential waste, fraud, or misuse of public resources.

The details

The state comptroller's audit found that the East Norwich Volunteer Fire Company purchased 11,819 gallons of fuel totaling $34,708 during the 23-month audit period, but company officials only recorded 10,691 gallons, leaving over 1,000 gallons unaccounted for. The audit also found that drivers incorrectly documented or failed to record odometer readings 235 times out of 441 fuel dispensing events.

• The audit covered the period from January 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024.
• The state comptroller's office released the audit report on March 27, 2026.

What’s next

The fire department has indicated it has approved and is implementing a corrective action plan to improve fuel monitoring and record-keeping, but the specific details of that plan were not included in the state comptroller's report.