Maybe I missed it somewhere in all the posts, but I don't recall seeing the OP say that he was using his Yaesu to transmit. It doesn't state that the radio had been modified from it's original design. Current design of most Amature equipment will not let you transmit on frequencies intended for public safety. They will act as a receiver and allow you to monitor those frequencies. So, I'm taking a guess that this radio is being used to monitor his fire department frequenices, and that is not illegal.
Again, I may have missed it, but just from this passage, it seems as though the radio is being used to monitor his VFD channels and that is not illegal. I myself do the same thing on my amature rig. I monitor my local fire department frequenices. So, unless all the facts are know, just comment on what is written and not add anything to it.