Ford Motor Co. is donating a highly customized Ford Bronco to help emergency wildfire crews in New Mexico, the automaker announced Wednesday.
The unique vehicle could offer insight into how its high-tech design and advanced communications gear could have potential for broader use in hot spots such as California, Oregon and Arizona.
The Bronco wildland SUV is going to Bandalier National Monument, a 33,000-acre designated wilderness area that includes ancient native land and sacred sites, about two hours north of Albuquerque.
Fires closed Bandalier in 2022. And fire season is underway again.
“When wildland fires break out, it’s one thing to get people in there and it’s another thing to be able to communicate,” Dave Rivers, Ford enthusiast brand manager, told the Free Press. “You marry up the capability of a Bronco with the advanced technology from Darley, and it’s a great recipe to solve an unmet need.”
The modified vehicle, designed for wildland firefighting by the National Park Service, started out as a Bronco Badlands model with a Sasquatch off-road package that retails at roughly $70,000. Then it was transformed with specialized technology into a high-tech mobile command center. Ford declined to provide the cost associated with the vehicle.
What makes this Bronco different
The Bronco firefighting command rig is equipped with:
- State-of-the-art communications system that includes satellite and antennae connections, in addition to radio-based and cellular network equipment
- A drone that can livestream video to installed screens in the vehicle
- A tablet computer to help guide emergency operations
- Special software providing first responders with aerial reconnaissance and detection capabilities
- A roof rack fitted with a light bar, search and emergency lights and siren
- 35-inch off-road tires
- A grille guard, which adds protection for the vehicle and the driver
- An electric winch, which can operate even if the Bronco is stalled on a steep hill
Who designed, added tech systems
W. S. Darley Co., an Illinois-based global manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles, has deep ties to Ford.
”My grandfather, W.S. Darley, actually went to Ford about 100 years ago and approached them about designing and building a commercial fire truck,” Peter Darley, chief operating officer of the namesake company told the Free Press. “He was able to offer that to municipalities across the U.S. at a lower price and a very good value. Since then, we’ve built a lot of different vehicles, and a lot them around Fords.”
The Bronco wildland vehicle was donated through the Bronco Wild Fund, which has given more than $3.7 million to groups, including the National Forest Foundation and Outward Bound, to increase access, preservation and stewardship of public lands, Ford said. A portion of every Bronco and Bronco Sport sale goes to the fund.
This Bronco is the first of two vehicles that are being developed by Darley for donation to the National Park Service and a wildland firefighting agency that will be the subject of a future announcement, Ford said in a news release. “The intent of this pilot program is to develop a tool that addresses an unmet need.”
Use of multiple forms of technology allows fire crews to gather and share reliable information about fire location and severity without cellphones losing connection, so firefighters can more quickly control wildfires in remote situations, Kevin Sofen, director of innovation at Darley, told the Detroit Free Press.
The vehicle also protects the lives of firefighters by reducing unknowns and uncertainty, he said.
“Darley, at our core, makes fire pumps and fire trucks. And that’s what we do very well,” Sofen said. “But we realized you can’t just only beat wildland fires with fire trucks. We needed to continue to rethink and reimagine the way we approach wildfires. That’s when we started to look at how can we empower the commanders and different tactical operators.”
Satellite support kicks in when wireless service fails in the middle of nowhere, he said. “A first responder is going to pull out their cellphone to take photos, run apps like Teams or WebEx or WhatsApp to coordinate with others. We are creating a consistent communication bubble with the Bronco. It’s a portable connectivity hub.”
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Why it matters
Fire conditions have changed over the past two decades, Patrick Suddath, superintendent of Bandelier National Monument, said in a news release. “Warmer temperatures and stronger winds have resulted in bigger fires that are harder to predict and manage. These more resource-intensive fires have a real impact on Bandelier’s firefighting corps, and this donation will help us manage fires better. It will also help to minimize impact to the park’s affiliated tribes, who have traditionally used park land for cultural, economic, and spiritual reasons.”
A look back
Ford has a long history of building emergency vehicles, including ambulances and police cruisers and fire trucks.
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“Fire was a constant menace to American cities well into the 20th century, when most buildings were made of wood and firefighting equipment was underpowered and overmatched,” according to The Henry Ford Museum. “Early firefighting relied on mettle, muscle, and machinery that improved slowly but steadily over time.”
Now, Ford is working to protect firefighters who need to monitor wind shifts, flame shifts and escape routes.
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid.