MONMOUTH — The town’s old firetruck will soon be used to train future firefighters elsewhere.

Selectmen agreed during Wednesday’s meeting to donate the town’s spare pumper truck, made in 1977, to the fire science program at the Waldo County Technical Center on Route 137 in Waldo.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Selectman Harold Jones.

The technical center’s fire science program trains high school sophomores, juniors and seniors during the course of one- and two-year programs. Students have the opportunity to earn firefighter II certification.

“Students in both these programs are strongly encouraged to become part of their local departments as well as continue their education after they complete the fire science program,” said Holly Scribner, emergency services instructor at the technical center.

Now, the program trains with a 1959 fire truck that is sparingly used because of mechanical problems and an unreliable pump, Scribner said. The truck’s shortcomings have deprived students of valuable experience, Scribner said.

“Your donation to the fire science program would enable the students to not only utilize an on-site fire pond and hydrant, but also go off site to the nearby Waldo County Fire Training Facility to utilize the facility as it was designed,” Scribner said.

Monmouth officials have been trying to sell the town’s 1977 pumper truck since this summer when the department took delivery of a new $350,000 quad-cab pumper truck. The new truck includes a number of upgrades, such as a compressed air foam system that delivers fire retardant foam. It replaced the old truck at the North Monmouth Fire Station.

Monmouth Fire Chief Andre Poulin said Wednesday that the town did receive an offer of $1,000 to buy the old truck from a company that planned to cut it up and convert it into a dump truck.

“A thousand dollars is a thousand dollars, but to me it’s a sin to cut it up,” Poulin said.

He suggested that donating the truck to the technical center would enhance fire service in the state. Jones said donating the truck was a way of thanking firefighters for their service in Monmouth and elsewhere.

The board voted unanimously to donate the truck to the technical center.

Poulin said firefighters from his department will deliver the truck after Thanksgiving.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com