Can someone explain the schism of V.F.D. and what the V.F.D. actually did?

Question

In Unfortunate Events books? I know there was a volunteer side, a villain side, and a firefighting side, but that really makes no sense.

Answer 1

The VFD (Volunteer Fire Department) was a GOOD organization dedicated to putting out fires (literal and otherwise). There was a schism though, and one side of the VFD (Count Olaf's side) turned to starting fires (literal and otherwise) while the Baudelaires' parents' side kept at the good work. It is a complicated thing and, like someone else on here said, Lemony Snicket pretty much left it to our imaginations, but that's the basics.

Answer 2

V.F.D actually means Volunteer Fire Department. They used to work as firemen who put out fires caused by people who are unknown for sure. Then a schism happened because of the lost sugar bowl(which is used as a communication tool).It's complicated even with The Beatrice Letters, hopefully, the new book (Horseradish it's going to be released in May) can answer some questions.

Answer 3

The schism occurred when the sugar bowl was lost. Strange, yes. But that is the reason given. I think the point of the entire series was that bad things happen. Good people die and other good people keep fighting the bad things, and sometimes there are schisms, but life keeps going.

Answer 4

They didn't just fight fires, they did research and just about whatever was cool and good. But Lemony Snickett never told any of details on them, just left it for our imagination.

The schism was between the good guys and the bad guys, to put it roughly.