Skagit County Fire District #8 (WA) Saves $100k+ By Selling on Garage

Department Profile

Location: Skagit County, Washington

Services: Fire protection, EMS assistance

Community Needs: Dependable, nimble apparatus able to respond quickly and effectively across a wide, wooded rural area

The Challenge

Just above the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and below the majestic North Cascades National Park sits 60 square miles of picturesque Skagit County, Washington. Skagit County Fire District #8 lies in the northwest corner of Skagit County, about 50 miles below the U.S.-Canada border. The majority-volunteer fire district protects the largely rural communities surrounding the city of Sedro-Woolley, Washington, and East up to Skagit County Fire Authority, near Concrete, Washington.

Founded in 1948, Skagit County Fire District #8, has stations situated at the eastern and western ends of its district, and therefore splits some firefighting responsibilities with the city of Sedro-Woolley in order to most efficiently serve the surrounding areas. Still, despite the best efforts of District #8’s committed volunteers, their company has fallen victim to many of the same challenges plaguing fire departments across the country:

Decline in volunteerism: According to junior Commissioner Lance Ford, whose service to the district spans more than 24 years, the national decline in firefighting volunteerism is even more pronounced on the West Coast

Financial barriers: Ever since COVID, equipment prices have risen dramatically. A new engine that used to cost around $400,000 now costs over $1 million, placing an enormous burden on resource-strapped fire companies.

Resource mismatch:While call volume has doubled in the past 20 years, resources have not, and price increases come as budgets are tightening for departments that must now hire paid employees to offset the decline in volunteers

To hear Commissioner Ford say it:

“We’ve been used to saving for a new engine for five or six years, but we were saving for $600,000, and now we’re facing a far higher price for new equipment.”

In an effort to recoup funds to cover the cost of buying new apparatus, the company decided to sell a number of surplus vehicles. Historically, they would sell on auction sites like Govdeals, but were frustrated with how little they would get for perfectly usable equipment. When searching for better alternatives for selling fire apparatus, one of the fire commissioners discovered Garage.

The Garage Solution

Compared to other options, they were drawn to Garage’s nationwide reach and modern tools to streamline the process. Early on, they used Garage’s instant appraisal tool to get a data-backed estimate for their fleet’s value. Rather than go it alone, their Garage account specialist stepped in and immediately guided them through the process, sticking with them every step of the way. With tailored guidance and professional marketing, Garage helped Skagit reach serious, fire department buyers across the entire country. By selling quickly and getting a fair price for their assets, Skagit County Fire District #8 freed up time and money to refocus on their top priorities - fire protection and prevention in their community.

Nationwide exposure: Garage’s nationwide platform connected Skagit with fire department buyers from all over the US, increasing the likelihood of a sale at the best possible price.

Guidance and professionalism: From day one, Skagit’s account specialist at Garage helped with every step of the process, from photos and listing improvements to coordinating virtual inspections with interested buyers.

Safe, secure transactions: Unlike other methods, transacting through Garage meant protection for both Skagit, and the buyers of their apparatus. Funds were transferred directly to Skagit’s bank account in a timely fashion, all while protecting both parties from fraud.

Why It Worked

Ultimately, all four vehicles sold within just one month of each other, netting hundreds of thousands of dollars that will be reinvested into critical equipment to serve their community.

These results, while impressive, are pretty common on Garage. Here were some keys to success:

Smart, data-backed pricing: Rather than guessing, Skagit County leadership used real sales data to set their price, using Garage’s instant appraisal tool to set a competitive, yet fair price.

High-quality photography: While Skagit opted to take photos themselves, Garage helped them optimize their listing with resources and guidance to maximize interest in their listing. They got inquiries within days.

Expert marketing: When selling an expensive, specialized vehicle like a fire truck, exposure is everything. Garage’s in-house marketing team promoted Skagit’s listings— like they do all listings– to make sure they got in front of the right buyer, at the right time. This helped them sell faster, and recoup more from the sales.

Commissioner Ford explained:

“We remember when these things used to sell for nothing…We listed everything for a lower [value] than the appraisals, but on Garage they all sold for two-to-three times what we expected.”

Summary

For a fire district servicing a broad, rugged swath of the Pacific Northwest, every dollar counts when it can be reinvested into fire suppression and community protection. Working with Garage, Skagit County Fire District #8 quickly and painlessly turned their surplus apparatus into a valuable asset for their department, helping them provide the highest level of service for years to come.