Oregon fire department gets OK to sell off old gear

7/23/2008
BLADE STAFF

Oregon firefighters will use the proceeds from the sales of its old equipment to purchase new equipment for the department.

Oregon council last week agreed to allow the city to sell its 1996 Indiana fire apparatus mini pumper fire engine to Sunoco Inc. for $10,000.

"It doesn't fit into the needs of the department," Oregon fire chief Bill Wilkins said, citing safety considerations and limited service ability.

The proceeds of this sale will go toward the purchase of a grass-fire skid unit for the department.

Mr. Wilkins said the department needs a grass-fire skid unit to help cover the 60 acres of Pearson Metropark, a portion of Maumee Bay State Park, and an additional 6,000 acres of agricultural farmland in the city of Oregon the department is responsible for.

The grass-fire skid unit includes a water tank, pump, and necessary plumbing together in a single unit, which can be mounted on a four-wheel-drive pickup truck the department already owns.

Council also approved an ordinance to allow the department to sell a 1976 Sutphen fire engine to FirstEnergy Corp. for $4,000.

The engine is out of service and does not have a functioning water pump. It is now being used for the department's training services.

The engine will be sold to FirstEnergy for use at its Davis Besse nuclear power plant to be used as a hose-transplant vehicle.

Mr. Wilkins said city council will determine where to designate the proceeds of the sale.

Mr. Wilkins said selling the department's unused equipment is beneficial for the department.

"It allows us to sell equipment and reinvest it to buy newer equipment," Mr. Wilkins said.