An emergency and rescue group southwest of Calgary has a new vehicle to help with critical missions in the backcountry. Redwood Meadows Emergency Services (RMES) unveiled its new utility terrain vehicle (UTV) on Wednesday. The service says it will be used for wildfire response, remote rescue and community protection. It’s a necessary addition, considering RMES’ last UTV was destroyed in a fire last December. “This UTV is a gamechanger for our operations,” said Redwood Meadows fire chief Rob Evans in a news release. “Our crews regularly respond in areas where traditional vehicles cannot go. “The 120 UTV gives us the speed, stability and carrying capacity to reach people faster and operate more safely in challenging conditions.” RMES worked with an Alberta company, Basecamp Motorsports, to configure the new vehicle for its purposes. Those upgrades include improved suspension, medical transport capabilities and equipment racks. Another company – Range Mobility – donated enhanced lighting for night operations. The UTV is now ready for deployment for wildfire response and remote medical calls in Kananaskis Country.
