You Can be the Proud New Owner of a Hudson Valley Firetruck!
How many of us wanted to be a firefighter when we grew up? While we may have missed the boat on being an actual first responder, we all have the chance to own one of the coolest vehicles on the planet: a full-blown firetruck, complete with water and foam pumps.
Croton-on-Hudson Firetruck for Sale
I know my parents still have a photo of 3-year-old me dressed head-to-toe in my fireman costume (with the helmet accidentally backwards) hanging in their kitchen, and if my younger self knew I would have the chance to own a real-life emergency vehicle, I might've gone right in my Pampers cruisers. Here's how you can get your hands on your very own firetruck:
How to Buy a Hudson Valley Firetruck
The Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department recently took to Facebook to share the news of the upcoming sale:
Our old Engine 118 is now FOR SALE. It is a 1993 HME/Saulsbury stainless steel pumper, featuring a 1,250 GPM Pump, 1,000 gallon water tank and a 100 gallon Class B foam tank... it is a great rig and has been very dependable for us for nearly 30 years!
I have to be honest; I only understand about 10% of the words in their post, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to pounce on this deal. Even if it never leaves my driveway, my mind is already racing with possibilities.
The rear of the truck looks like an awesome place to crack a few beers with friends as someone else helms the firehose and creates the Hudson Valley's coolest slip-n-slide. But I digress. There are actually a few legal details associated with this purchase that I would have never considered.
Legally Owning an Emergency Vehicle
First off, I didn't consider that another emergency service department could but the truck, not just a private bidder. In fact, according to the language on the auction site, it may even be preferred, since a private citizen isn't allowed to own the firetruck as-is:
If a municipality or legal law enforcement agency is NOT the highest bidder for this lot, it will be the responsibility of the bidder to decommission ALL EMERGENCY INSTRUMENTS prior to the vehicle leaving the facility. This means you will have to cut power to; lights, sirens and/or any radio equipment (shall it be equipped). You must also de-identify this vehicle as being an emergency vehicle. Failure to do so may result in legal ramifications and potential accusations of impersonation
So if you're gonna play "firefighter", you'll need to do a few modifications first. But hey, as of writing, the current bid is only $2,025. That sounds like a steal no matter what you'll have to do to it. And speaking of cool firefighter-related surprises, check out the abandoned bowling alley at the Staatsburg Fire Department below.
