United States (Georgia) - It was the kind of price you might find at a fire sale. A vehicle that, when new, sold for as much as $750,000 went for $6,800. Not a bad deal at all, said Steve Moore of the new ladder truck purchased by the Seale Volunteer Fire Department. The department is now the only volunteer station in Russell County to have one.

"It's a 1985 model but it has only 25,000 miles on it," the firefighter said. "It was purchased over the Internet through an open bid forum. It was purchased from the John Stennis NASA Space Center in Mississippi."

Over the last four months, the approximately 18 volunteer firefighters in Seale, Ala., sanded, painted and refurbished the vehicle. The work cost about $6,000. The green color is gone. A blazing red is in.

Department members are so fired up about the new truck that they are hosting an open house Saturday. Visitors can see the truck and view the department facilities. There will be hamburgers and hot dogs.

Some might ask why the department, which already has two tankers and a pumper truck, needs a ladder truck.

"We have three schools that the truck can help us protect," Chief Danny Sandlin said. "There is the Russell County Courthouse, some tall churches as well as some mansions."

Moore added that other volunteer departments will be able to use the truck. He said no grants were used in the truck's purchase.

"People here need to know this is why they pay dues," Moore said. "We're trying to give them the best protection possible."

Written by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer