You can buy a 52K GVW 400hp automatic tractor from uncle sam for a couple grand, and it will be in the best condition that unlimited money and labor can keep it in.

I may not know everything there is to know about fighting fires, but I think I'm pretty well qualified when it comes to hauling stuff without spending a fortune doing it.

You sound pretty good at justifying spending money.  Perhaps the cause would be better served by someone who knew how to actually do more with less.