Success Story: City of Colchester, Vermont

Department Profile

• Location: Colchester, Vermont

• Services: Fire suppression, EMS, rescue operations, and marine operations

• Community Needs: Reliable, ready-to-roll apparatus and equipment to serve a diverse community and respond across a wide geographic area

The Challenge

A lakeside town on the shores of Lake Champlain, Colchester is one of Vermont’s largest communities. It’s home to busy residential neighborhoods, seasonal tourism activity, and a mix of commercial and light industrial zones. The Colchester Fire Department protects not only its own residents but also assists neighboring communities through mutual aid.

For Colchester Fire Department, readiness is non-negotiable. Crews must be prepared to respond anywhere in town—or to neighboring departments—at a moment’s notice. Reliable apparatus and properly equipped rigs are the foundation of that capability.

The department had surplus apparatus to sell, but without a clear sales channel, there were real challenges:

• Uncertainty: No set timeline for when the truck might sell or for how much

• Limited Reach: Local sales channels and auctions often attract few bidders

• Administrative Burden: Managing listings, inquiries, and logistics can pull focus away from operations

As Assistant Chief Christopher Brown explained:

“Before dealing with Garage, we didn’t know when it was going to sell, how we were going to sell it.”

The Garage Solution

Garage stepped in to handle the entire sales process from start to finish, removing the administrative burden from Colchester’s leadership.

• Nationwide Visibility: Garage’s platform got the word out quickly, attracting buyers from across the country.

• Hands-Off Logistics: Garage coordinated the entire process, from marketing to payment and freight.

• Fast Turnaround: Interest built rapidly, and the apparatus sold in a fraction of the time the department expected.

The Results

The impact was immediate and measurable.

• Significant Gain: Colchester earned tens of thousands more than the department would have earned through local auction or self-sale

• Funds Reinvested: Proceeds went directly back into the department—updating fleet, tools, and equipment

• Operational Focus: Leadership was able to stay focused on protecting the community while Garage handled the sale

Why It Worked

• National Reach: Colchester was able to connect with serious buyers well outside of their local market

• Stress-Free Process: Garage took care of marketing, buyer communication, and freight

• Better Financial Outcome: Achieved a far higher sale price than traditional methods could have delivered.

Assistant Chief Christopher Brown’s Perspective

“I think working with Garage was a no-brainer. If I was to talk with any fire chiefs in the neighboring area… I would definitely recommend Garage.”

Summary

Serving one of Vermont’s most active and unique communities, the Colchester Fire Department needs every dollar to work hard for its firefighters and residents. By partnering with Garage, the department was able to maximize value, minimize hassle, and ensure their crews stay equipped and ready for whatever may come their way.