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Kennebunk to donate 1992 reserve engine to towns hit by Searsmont fire
Summary
The Kennebunk Select Board authorized donating its 1992 KME reserve fire engine to any town that lost apparatus in the recent Searsmont fire, foregoing an online sale; the board cited the lengthy replacement timeline for new apparatus and a finance subcommittee recommendation.
The Kennebunk Select Board on May 26 authorized the Town Manager to donate the town’s 1992 KME reserve fire engine to any municipality that lost fire apparatus in the Searsmont blaze.
Fire Chief Justin Cooper, joining by Zoom, said multiple apparatus were destroyed in the Searsmont fire and that, if the department orders new equipment, “it could take up to 3 years to see their new truck.” Cooper asked the board to consider donation rather than selling the reserve engine through an online auction service.
Finance Subcommittee members recommended the donation to the full board. Select Board member Karen Plattes and others pressed for context on resale value; Cooper estimated a sale price “possibly between $5,000–$10,000,” and Town Manager Bryan Laverriere said recent online sales averaged about $8,500.
Lisa Pratt moved to authorize the Town Manager to donate the 1992 KME reserve engine to any town that lost a fire apparatus in the Searsmont fire; Karen Plattes seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by show of hands, 6–0, with one member absent.
The donation decision will remove the truck from the upcoming GovDeals.com sale schedule and expedite sharing surplus equipment with an affected community while they await replacement apparatus. The board did not specify a recipient town by name; the authorization applies to any qualifying town impacted by the Searsmont incident.
