Utica Fire & Rescue bought their entire fleet on Garage.

Utica, Indiana

With the number of volunteers on the decline and budgets only getting tighter, South Farmingdale Fire Department needed a more effective way to turn surplus fire apparatus into funds for their department. Traditional methods were slow and recouped very little, so they turned to Garage with hopes of expanding their reach and selling faster. 

Rather than letting the trucks sit on a broker site and waiting for someone to find them, South Farmingdale saw the power of Garage's modern marketing and streamlined product — buyers found their listings fast, and within a matter of weeks, they had already sold 3 of their surplus fire apparatus.

, South Farmingdale found themselves with more than $200k in additional funds to reinvest in their community— several times more than they would've gotten with other methods. 

As Fire Commissioner Patrick Fullshire put it:

 "The dealers would have "a guy" who might offer you $50,000 for a piece that's worth $150,000. But you took it because, what else were you going to do? With Garage, we could actually get what it was worth because it got in front of buyers all over the country."

And they're not alone. Hundreds of fire departments around the US, including many others on Long Island, have made their budgets go further by buying and selling on Garage. While the old way of doing things left buyers searching and sellers waiting, modern platforms like Garage have changed what is possible for fire departments and municipalities, bringing the right buyer and the right seller together to make the whole market more efficient. The streamlined approach has not only saved hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars, but reduced a months-long process of phone calls, paperwork, and coordination into a matter of days. 

For communities like South Farmingdale, partnering with Garage has breathed new life into a process that left many in local government discouraged and frustrated. With a smoother and more efficient process, cities and towns like South Farmingdale are doing their part to keep taxpayer dollars where they should be— serving the community and keeping people safe. 

https://www.fox5ny.com/video/fmc-po9gkbpn1fi2z980

South Farmingdale (NY) Brings In More Than $200k Selling Fire Apparatus on Garage

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

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:

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

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.

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

“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 

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 

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Rather than guessing, Skagit County leadership used real sales data to set their price, using Garage’s instant 

While Skagit opted to take photos themselves, Garage helped them optimize their listing with 

 and guidance to maximize interest in their listing. They got inquiries within days.

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.

“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.”

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.

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

 Fire suppression, EMS, rescue operations, and marine operations

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

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:

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

 Local sales channels and auctions often attract few bidders

 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.”

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

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

 Garage coordinated the entire process, from marketing to payment and freight.

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

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

 Proceeds went directly back into the department—updating fleet, tools, and equipment

 Leadership was able to stay focused on protecting the community while Garage handled the sale

 Colchester was able to connect with serious buyers well outside of their local market

 Garage took care of marketing, buyer communication, and freight

 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.”

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.

Success Story: City of Colchester, Vermont

As Vermont’s largest city and an economic, cultural, and transportation hub, Burlington’s Fire Department protects a dense urban core, a busy waterfront, and vital infrastructure. The department’s crews are on the front lines daily, responding to fires, medical calls, and emergencies that demand dependable equipment.

But replacing apparatus has become increasingly difficult:

 Trucks purchased for $600,000 just a few years ago now cost $800,000–$900,000.

 Three-year build times delay getting new equipment into service.

 Historically, surplus apparatus disposal was handled through the Department of Public Works, often yielding low returns at local auction.

“Basically, we’d take what we could get, which wasn’t much.”

, the online marketplace that connects fire departments and municipalities to transact directly with each other - anywhere in the US.

 Their surplus apparatus listings were posted to a nationwide audience, generating interest almost immediately.

 Garage worked within Burlington’s needs, allowing for a smooth and compliant transaction.

 Freight pickup was smooth—Garage’s partner handled loading, securing, and transporting the unit.

 Funds were delivered exactly when Garage promised, with fraud protection in case something went wrong. 

The switch to Garage delivered both a better process and a far greater financial return.

 from across the country, not just regionally

 Proceeds will help replace Burlington’s command vehicle

 No uncertainty, no delays, no added administrative load for city staff

 Garage connected Burlington Fire Department with a pool of serious, qualified buyers from around the country. Their trucks traveled to buyers as far as Texas and Wisconsin. 

 Garage handled the entire sales and logistics process, saving time and headaches.

 The department secured a higher price in less time than with traditional methods, which helped stretch their budget further.

“Garage solved that for us… We got about five times more for our equipment selling with Garage than we did on our own. The money moved to the account when Garage said it would. In the past, things weren’t always that smooth.”

For Burlington — like towns and cities across the country — every budget dollar counts toward maintaining readiness for a wide range of emergencies. By leveraging Garage’s nationwide reach and turnkey process, the Burlington Fire Department transformed its surplus apparatus sales into a reliable, high-value funding source. The result: more resources to keep crews equipped, residents safe, and the city’s critical infrastructure protected.

Testimonials

Trusted by thousands

Utica, Indiana

South Farmingdale (NY) Brings In More Than $200k Selling Fire Apparatus on Garage

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

Success Story: City of Colchester, Vermont

Why Vermont's Largest City Trusts Garage to Sell Surplus Vehicles