Vashon Island Fire and Rescue is cleaning house with the upcoming Surplus Sale, held Saturday, Nov. 5.

Various items the fire department no longer needs, or that are being replaced in the fire stations, will be on sale for the public to purchase. These items include wooden desks, various dining and office chairs, several couches and more.

Some furniture came from the nearby Bennedsen house, which was named after 1st Lt. Robert Bennedsen. He was a member of the fire department and was tragically killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in 2010. The property was sold last year and VIFR is selling a few pieces of furniture from the home that are no longer needed.

“It’s an opportunity for us to clean up, repurpose and resell,” said Fire Chief Matthew Vinci, adding that it is a step the department is taking in their process to become more “efficient, effective and modern.”

Funds made from the sale go to the department’s General Fund, which, in addition to budgeted money and a community grant, will be used to support VIFR’s incoming wellness and fitness program. The program will be implemented in January 2023 at Camp Burton, Vinci said.

The resource program — O2X Human Performance — encompasses various wellness avenues, strength training routines and tips, nutrition guidelines, mental health supports, injury prevention, sleep management and more. For Vinci, spending over 28 years in the fire service has proven to him that caring for one’s mental health is just as important as caring for physical health.

“We’re making sure we take care of our staff in the tough job they have,” Vinci said. The program will be available to all firefighters, volunteers and department staff. “It’s a comprehensive, holistic wellness and fitness program.”

O2X Human Performance as a company creates customized wellness programs for public safety departments, the military and federal agencies to improve the lives of their members.

The Washington Firefighter’s Association also received a nearly $20,000 grant from Granny’s Attic to help establish the program with Vashon Island Fire and Rescue.

“They were very instrumental in supporting [this program],” Vinci said of Granny’s donation.

The sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Station 58 (26319 99th Ave. SW) in Dockton.