Briceland Volunteer Fire Department
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To provide fire fighting, emergency medical and rescue services within the Briceland district area and support to other emergency service departments.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $813,817
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 56%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $6,816, board member
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 86% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $717,799 spent. During 2024-2025 our Fire Department provided Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection with assistance on 10 different incidents and Mutual Aide Support on Cal-Fire Stations. In November 2024 we provided assistance to Humboldt Co. Office of Emergency Services, prepositioning response teams for the winter storm that hit the North coast region. We responded to numerous fire, emergency and medical incidents in our service area. In November 2023, we were awarded a USDA/USFS Community Wildfire Defense Grant. We began a pilot project on five miles of a private road system to create a buffer fire break and safer evacuation route for residents and access for emergency responders. The work on this project grant was completed in January 2025. In June 2024 we were awarded a Defensible Space Project grant through the Humboldt Co. Dept. of Public Works, as part of the California Climate Investments Program, through the California Fire Safe Council. This grant work was completed in December 2024 and provided for 110 homesites to be treated with a 100' buffer zone and home risk assessment to help harden residents homes to better resist wildfires. Throughout the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025 we conducted numerous Prescribed Burns, outreaching to areas outside our District, furthering our Fuels Hazard Reduction and Fire Training programs to other neighboring communities. Our Department continued to offer basic and advanced fire fighter trainings through our annual Fire Academy Training grants as well as recruiting potential new fire fighters. Our Department members participated in many basic and advanced training courses throughout 2024-2025.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.