what does vfd in a series of unfortunate events mean?

Answer 1

We first hear of V.F.D. in The Austere Academy, then, in The Vile Village, we learn that the town is called V.F.D., which stands for Village of Fowl Devotees.

In The Hostile Hospital, we meet a group of people who call themseles the Volunteers Fighting Disease.

In The Slippery Slope we get a possible new understanding of V.F.D., thanks to Duncan Quagmire, that V.F.D. stand for Volunteer Fire Department, which would make sense considering the many references to fires in the Series.

Apparently there was some split in the VFD group, some going "bad" and using their knowledge of fires to commit arson (like Olaf and his troupe).

Lemony Snicket's Unauthorized Biography mentions a bunch of other V.F.D.'s:

Vinyard of Fragrant Drapes (p. 84)
Valorous Farms Dairy (p. 156)
Very Frightening Danger (Copyright notice)
Veritable French Diner (pp. 79, 120-121)
Veiled Facial Disguises (p. 99)
Various Finery Disguises (p. 101)
Very False Documents Press (p. 162)
Very Fancy Doily Press (p. 164)
Voracious Film Discussion Press (p. 165)
Venom Feels Delightful Press (p. 167)
Vincent Francis Doyle (p. 162)

Truth be told, we're not exactly sure what V.F.D. is, but I hope the meaning is explained in volume 12 or 13 of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The Grim Grotto refers to V.F.D. several times, but obviously these aren't "the" VFD organization.
Valley of Four Drafts
Volunteer Factual Dispatch
Voluntary Fish Domestication
Visitable Fungal Ditches
Vertical Flame Diversions
Versed Furtive Disclosure
Verse Fluctuation Declaration
Volatile Fungus Deportation
Verifying Fernald's Defection
Violet's Fifteenth Date

Answer 2

Depends on how far you are reading along. You have to read between the lines to get the true meaning, but if you really want to know, I'll spoil it for you... It stands for Volunteer Fire Department. Although fires are kind of symbolic throughout the series as a sign of evil, so really this volunteer fire department is working against evil, or putting out evil's "fires" with good.

Answer 3

It stands for several things during the series, but in book 13 it says it stands for Volunteer Fire Department. Happy Holidays!