The Ranger. Click above for more pics.

Backcountry Rescue Vehicle

One of the great assets of the Park City area is the numerous trails that allow those who live in, and visit, Summit County to enjoy nature. These trails have challenged Park City Fire Service District in accessing patients and those who need help. To overcome these challenges, the Fire District maintains several vehicles for back country rescue. The Pinebrook Fire Station maintains two snowmobiles during the winter and one four-wheeler during the summer. The bulk of the back country rescue gear is kept at the Holiday Ranch Loop Road Fire Station. This equipment includes two mountain bikes and an off-road vehicle called “The Ranger” (see photo, click for more).

The Ranger is a Polaris off-road vehicle with a 40 horsepower 700cc twin-injected engine. It has the ability to carry one driver, three passengers, and one patient. It has a fairly narrow wheelbase so it can be used on quite a few of the Park City area trails. It is designed for mountain travel but can be used on developed paths as well.

The Ranger carries a full compliment of medical equipment to assist patients who have respiratory, cardiac, diabetic, and allergic problems. For those suffering traumatic injuries the Ranger carries backboards, splinting material, and advanced life support gear.

Responders that use the Ranger are required to attend training sessions that deal specifically with the limitations and abilities of the vehicle, and they must be checked off on their skill sets in their use of the Ranger. Safety, as always, is our primary concern for both patients and our rescuers.

Since the time of its in-service in November 2007, the Ranger has been used many times, not only on numerous rescues in locations that would have otherwise delayed access and extrication of the patient, but as a response vehicle during events such as the Kimball Arts Festival. In an effort to maximize the use of the Ranger, it is assigned to the Lower Deer Valley Fire Station during the winter for snow removal.

PCFD Ambulance finds new home in Mexico

Last fall, The Park City Fire District was contacted by Mac MacQuoid of the Park City Rotary Club who was inquiring where he might purchase a good used ambulance. After explaining why he was looking for an ambulance, Assistant Chief Bob Zanetti worked out a deal with the Summit County Commissioners to sell an ambulance, slated for retirement, to the Rotary Club at an extremely reduced price.

The ambulance has changed owners and undergone a face lift leaving it ready for service in Pueblo Viejo, Michoacán, Mexico. The ambulance will be used to transport patients from a clinic, staffed by a volunteer doctor and nurses, which provides medical care to 2500 people in the surrounding area. Many of the Mexican families that live and work in the Park City area come from the area around Pueblo Viejo in the state of Michoacán.
As soon as the details of shipping, customs, and security are settled, two paramedics from The Park City Fire District will accompany Mr. MacQuoid to Pueblo Viejo. Once there, they will present the ambulance to the community and train the volunteer medical technicians on its use. The Fire District joins the Rotary Club in the excitement of the project and we are delighted to have a part in it.

Custom-built KME Predator rear mount pumper

The Park City Fire District recently took delivery of a new custom-built KME Predator rear mount pumper for Station 38 in lower Deer Valley.
This engine was specifically designed for the narrow streets and the steep hills in the Old Town area of Park City. It has a short overall length and wheel base, giving it a tight turning radius. The pump is a 1500 GPM S series Waterous with a Foam Pro 2002 foam injection system. The power plant is a Cummins ISL 425 HP in front of a 5-speed Allison World automatic transmission. The body has rescue style deep compartments with a fully enclosed heated pump panel. It has a 500 gallon booster tank, 1000 ft. of 5 inch and 600 ft. of 2 ½ inch hose. This engine has 2 pre-connected speedlay trays with 200 ft. of 1 ¾ inch attack lines. An extended front bump provides room for 150 ft. of 1 ¾ inch attack line. The rear has 300 ft. of pre-connected 2 ½. All the hose is protected from the weather by custom designed compartments.