State audit flags East Norwich fire company for untracked fuel spending

A state audit found that the East Norwich Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 did not properly monitor its fuel inventory, leading to more than $7,600 in untracked spending.

The fire company did not accurately document how much gas it received and did not accurately record how much fuel it used, according to the audit by the state comptroller's office. The review covered the period between Jan. 1, 2023, and Nov. 30, 2024. It found that the fire company did not properly account for 2,936 gallons of fuel, valued at $7,603. The company has 18 vehicles, according to the report.

Because the fire company did not track the gallons of fuel it used or received, “officials have no assurance that fuel was used for proper Company purposes,” the report stated.

The department agreed to improve a system for tracking fuel deliveries and use, Christopher Velsor, president of the fire company, said in a statement.

Velsor said in a letter attached to the audit: “It is our position that the Fire Company does not object to the audit findings and agrees that greater controls concerning monitoring fuel storage and use are appropriate.”

The report said the department did not keep accurate records on vehicle odometer readings, vehicle ID numbers or driver ID numbers. Those figures are required to precisely track fuel use.

The audit also found that the fire company did not always correctly track the amount of fuel it purchased. In one example, on March 12, 2024, the company recorded ordering and receiving 500 gallons of fuel; however, an invoice for the delivery showed it was 550 gallons, according to the audit.

During the nearly two-year audit, the company purchased 11,819 gallons of fuel that cost a total of $34,708, according to the audit.

East Norwich Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 services East Norwich and parts of the villages of Brookville, Muttontown and Upper Brookville.

By Joseph Ostapiuk

joseph.ostapiuk@newsday.com@OstapiukJ