The National Park Service just got a lot cooler as Ford has donated a custom firefighting command vehicle for use at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.
The firefighting rig is based on the Bronco Badlands and comes equipped with the Sasquatch package. The latter is worthy of Bigfoot himself as it adds a high-clearance suspension, front and rear electronic lockers, and 17-inch wheels that are wrapped in 35-inch mud-terrain tires.
While that would be overkill for most fire departments, it’s a huge asset in Bandelier as the park spans over 33,000 acres (51.5 square miles) and two-thirds of it is designated wilderness. The lack of roads and infrastructure is a significant challenge, and one that the Bronco can help to overcome.
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The Bronco was modified by Darley and features a factory-installed Warn winch as well as a grille guard and beadlock wheels with red accents. They’re joined by a roof rack, which has been outfitted with a light bar, emergency lights, and a “state-of-the-art government communication system.” The latter features satellite and antenna connections to provide reliability and redundancy in remote environments.
The upgrades continue in the cabin as there’s a tablet mounted on the front passenger side. It can display live video from the included drone and Ford noted this gives firefighters “improved aerial reconnaissance, detection capabilities, and improved situational awareness.”
The SUV follows in the footsteps of the Bronco and Filson Wildland Fire Rig Concept and was donated through the Bronco Wild Fund. The latter aims to “increase access, preservation and stewardship of our public lands,” and has donated more than $3.7 million to organizations such as America’s State Parks, Outward Bound, Sons of Smokey, and the National Forest Foundation. That effort is ongoing and Ford noted a second vehicle is already in the works.
We’ll learn more in the future, but the superintendent of Bandelier National Monument, Patrick Suddath, said: “I want to thank Ford for this generous donation. Over the last 20 years, warmer temperatures and stronger winds have resulted in bigger fires that are harder to predict and manage.” He added that the Bronco will help them better manage these types of fires as well as minimize their impact on local tribes.
