Who could possibly want to buy a used fire truck with a rusted frame, leaking fuel tank, no rear seats and broken springs in all four of its tires?

Much to the surprise of a new fire chief on Cape Cod, there are many potential buyers and they learned about the availability of the truck from a small public notice in the Sandwich (Mass.) Enterprise. The notice sought bids of at least $5,000 for the Sandwich Fire Department’s 2007 Sutphen Fire Engine; it was published 11 days ago in the Enterprise by Fire Chief John J. Burke.

“We’ve had a ton of inquiries already,” Burke told the newspaper a few days after he ran the notice. “The irony is, the frame is rotting, the water tank and brakes have issues, and the truck has had problems for the last three years.”

Chief Burke told the Enterprise this is the first time he’s put a vehicle out for bid since he’s been with the fire department. “The whole process is very interesting,” he said. “I’m very curious about who will submit the winning bid—and what they’ll use the truck for.”