The response has been extremely positive to a petition for a town vote on whether or not to let Wiscasset firefighters wash their personal vehicles at the fire station, Fire Chief T.J. Merry said.

Merry said Tuesday, Sept. 13, the petition still needed about 30 signatures. He expected those would be gathered that day, and that the petition would be filed at the town office on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Firefighters are hoping for a vote at the polls Nov. 8, Merry has said.

Town Clerk Linda Perry said she needs to receive the signed warrant for the local ballot by Sept. 23. In an email response to questions Monday, Perry said she had not received any petitions for ballot questions.

Car-washing of members’ vehicles was a longstanding practice at the department, fire officials have said. In multiple, split votes this year, selectmen barred it over the issue of liability. Talks followed, but Merry later said another meeting with the board on the issue would be a waste of everyone’s time.

The petition reads: “Shall the Town vote to continue to allow the members of the Wiscasset Fire Department the use of the Wiscasset Fire Department to clean their personal vehicles? We the undersigned voters ... hereby petition the municipal officers ... to place the (question) before the voters for their consideration.”

Selectmen’s Chairman Judy Colby has said if the firefighters choose to take the matter to the town and the townspeople realize the liability that would be opened up, she would have to support what the town wanted.