Modified by Darley, a global manufacturer and distributor for defense, fire and rescue vehicles, the vehicle will aid National Park Service firefighters in protecting Bandelier’s 33,000 acres that include ancient native lands and sacred sites. Integrated satellite, cellular and radio-based communications equipment, a tablet computer and a drone to survey situations from above, plus front and rear locking differentials, 35-inch off-road tires, an integrated winch and more will help manage and coordinate emergency response.
“For more than a century Ford has supported fire response and disaster relief efforts by deploying vehicles to provide emergency transportation and power and deliver essential goods. Bronco Wild Fund was created because of our passion for the outdoors, and we’re excited to donate the Bronco wildland firefighting command rig to Bandelier to help protect this National Monument for generations to come.” said Dave Rivers, Ford Enthusiast Brand Manager.
The Bronco wildland firefighting command rig follows the Bronco + Filson Wildland Fire Rig Concept and is being donated through the Ford Bronco Wild Fund, which works to increase access, preservation and stewardship of our public lands. To date, Bronco Wild Fund has donated more than $3.7 million to diverse causes, including organizations like America’s State Parks, National Forest Foundation, Outward Bound and Sons of Smokey.
The 33,000-acre Bandelier National Monument is in northern New Mexico, about a two-hour drive north of Albuquerque and is composed of rugged canyons and mesas that contain petroglyphs, cliffs dwellings and evidence of human presence going back over 11,000 years. Bandelier’s position in the transition zone of the high desert of the American Southwest provides a unique environment where the rapid effects of climate change have been observed and studied. The park has a history of natural fire occurrences, and as the fire season grows longer, the park is experiencing more repeated fires in the same landscape.
Two-thirds of Bandelier is designated wilderness, meaning it lacks infrastructure and is difficult to access. The Bronco wildland firefighting command rig will enhance Bandelier's fire fleet, expanding their current capabilities.
Source: Ford