Maine department scores free fire truck

February 06, 2010 06:55 AM

By Scott Monroe
Morning Sentinel

VASSALBORO, Maine — Thanks to a relationship started decades ago, the Fire Department is set to receive a firetruck from another department about 350 miles away — for free.

And they’re delivering it.

The used firetruck, a 1990 model with room for six people in the cabin, is probably worth $75,000 or so, said Eric Rowe, Vassalboro’s fire chief. It will replace the department’s oldest truck, a 1978, which fire officials had planned to request replacing in a few years.

Now, that replacement won’t cost taxpayers.

The gift is coming from the Wiccopee Fire Company, which is part of the East Fishkill Fire District in eastern New York state, Rowe said.

“They all of a sudden called us. My mouth dropped,” Rowe said. “It was a real shock.”

Rowe told Vassalboro Selectmen of the free truck Thursday night.

The Vassalboro Fire Department has received equipment from the East Fishkill Fire District in the past, according to Rowe, who has been fire chief for 20 years. But Rowe said the start of that connection pre-dates him.

Former chief Gerald Dore became close friends with fire officials at the district and one Vassalboro firefighter’s brother lives in the East Fishkill area, Rowe said.

“Over the years, Vassalboro fire has gotten a lot of stuff from them,” Rowe said. “It’s like we’re a sister fire company to them.”

But never a gift this big, he said. The East Fishkill Fire District decided to give the used truck to Vassalboro after first trying to sell it, Rowe said. The district actually had two old trucks that it sought bids for, but none of the offers were good enough.

So one truck went to a museum and the other they decided to give away.

Now, the Vassalboro Fire Department has six trucks, which includes four fire engines, a pumper and a tanker. The old 1978 truck still pumps water and has some value, but “it’s not our first-line truck.”

Town Manager Mary Sabins said the free fire truck certainly helps out taxpayers, who won’t need to foot the bill for a replacement.

“I know that’s been a growing concern of theirs, about this old truck,” Sabins said. “It would definitely alleviate that problem.”

“The truck, to us, it looks great,” Rowe said. “They keep their equipment in very good shape.”

Rowe said that East Fishkill firefighters plan to service the truck, winterize it and then drive it up to Vassalboro, maybe in a month or so.