Ford Motor Company, in collaboration with the Bronco Wild Fund, has generously donated a specially equipped Ford Bronco Badlands SUV with Sasquatch off-road package to the National Park Service. This rugged vehicle will serve as a mobile firefighting command center at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, enabling efficient access to remote areas where wildfires pose a significant threat.
The transformed Bronco, developed in partnership with Darley, a renowned manufacturer of fire and rescue vehicles, starts its journey as a Badlands model enhanced with the Sasquatch package. This includes a suspension lift and 35-inch tires, optimizing its off-roading capabilities. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a Warn winch, grille guard, and beadlock wheels, enabling it to navigate the rugged terrain of the 33,000-acre national monument it is entrusted to safeguard.
While the 2023 Bronco itself is not designed to directly combat fires, it excels as a command station. It is equipped with advanced communication systems, including government-spec radio and satellite connections, ensuring up-to-date information for firefighting operations. These systems are conveniently housed behind the second row of seats, with additional space available for an advanced drone that provides live images to monitors within the SUV. An advanced software suite efficiently manages all these resources, empowering operators to detect and respond to fires in their early stages.
This remarkable donation to Bandelier National Monument is made possible through Ford's Bronco Wild Fund. Moreover, another similar vehicle is currently being developed for a wildland firefighting agency, with the recipient yet to be announced.
The timing of this donation is crucial, as Canada is currently facing its most severe wildfire season on record. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 3,000 fires have ravaged over 19 million acres of land, with 479 active fires, half of which are uncontrollable as of June 28. The impact of these fires has extended to the eastern provinces, leading to air quality warnings in the American Midwest and Great Lakes regions due to the resulting smoke.
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico is no stranger to wildfire dangers. Past incidents, such as the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000 (43,000 acres), La Mesa Fire in 1977 (15,000 acres), and Dome Fire in 1996 (16,000 acres), have demonstrated the region's vulnerability. The most devastating was the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, which scorched an enormous 156,000 acres and directly affected Bandelier. Last year's Calf Canyon/Hermets Peak Fire, which consumed over 341,000 acres in the forests east of the park, also posed a significant threat.
With the addition of this specialized firefighting Bronco, Bandelier National Monument is better equipped to combat wildfires and protect its valuable natural resources. To learn more about the latest Ford Bronco, don't hesitate to reach out to us at Haldeman Ford in East Windsor!