A former volunteer fire chief in Nicholas County was indicted last month in an embezzlement investigation. Charles W. Bickford was indicted by Nicholas County Grand Jury in January on charges of embezzlement and 11 counts of computer fraud in an investigation dating back to September 2021. Eyewitness News reported Bickford is accused of using his status at the Wilderness Volunteer Fire Department to fraudulently pay himself $33,278.75 between September 2021 and December 2022. Noah Allen took over fire chief duties in November 2022.
Allen said he has focused on rebuilding the trust with the community, including strengthening financial oversight, modernizing the fire department’s fleet, improving its facilities, expanding its roster and increasing training.