MANSFIELD -- The Mansfield firefighters union is duking it out with a state volunteer firefighters group, alleging that its fundraising is misleading town residents -- and siphoning off its own fundraising.

The union has called the attorney general's office into the fray.

Firefighter John Robbins, president of Mansfield Permanent Firefighters Association Local 1820, alleged Tuesday that the telemarketing calls are misleading Mansfield residents into believing their donations will support fire safety programs in Mansfield schools.

Massachusetts Call/Volunteer Firefighters Association President Lawrence Holmberg countered that its solicitors are prohibited from saying the funds will benefit a specific community. The phone calls are state licensed, he added.

`` We've been telemarketing for 11 years, and we always have a handful of complaints, usually from union officials, saying we shouldn't be telemarketing in their towns,'' Holmberg said. Robbins said he complained to the public charities division of the attorney general's office on Monday after receiving a telemarketing call at his Judy Lane home.

`` I told the guy, `That's funny. We have a SAFE (Student Awareness for Fire Education) program.' Not once did a call or volunteer firefighter do a program in the Mansfield schools,'' Robbins said.

Robbins said he figures the state group's fundraising cost his union about $1,000 in potential donations last year. The Mansfield union solicits funds in January and February.

Residents have told Mansfield firefighters, `` I already gave to you people,'' Robbins said.

He also said there are no call firefighters in Mansfield.

The town lost its call firefighters several years ago for budget reasons, he said.

Holmberg said the lack of call and volunteer firefighters in Mansfield is irrelevant to his organization.

Fundraising statewide allows the group to reach people with summer homes, where they might not be accessible, Holmberg said. Some of those summer communities might have call and volunteer firefighters, he said.

`` We call throughout the state,'' he said. `` We call Boston. We call Springfield. We call Worcester. They don't have volunteers.

`` These people have a right to donate to a state association that represents call and volunteer firefighters,'' Holmberg said. MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0372 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.