Just a thought: Contact your local news media and show them this:
formatting link
someone try to lodge a campaigne to have the Fed Govt give this fire engine to a rural community in need of one, rather than auctioning it off. Can't hurt to try. Notifying your congressman, and the like, might help the cause, also.With a little advertising, maybe even the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area can gather donations to acquire it and donate it to a needy community. With enough donations, maybe it could be fully rigged for service, also.
I suppose a community, in need, can bid on it, but why not just give it to them. It's essentially already paid for.
*My rant, somewhat, about govt waste, though auctioning it off may not be waste. I just don't consider this item typical surplus.
Sonny