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Commission approves UTV purchase for wildland rescue and state grant to buy firefighting gear
Summary
County commissioners approved buying an off-road UTV equipped to carry a stretcher using Title 3 funds and accepted a 50/50 state grant for firefighting equipment; chief described operational needs and staging at Sanderson station.
The Baker County Board of County Commissioners authorized the purchase of an off-road utility vehicle (UTV) configured for wildland rescue operations and approved accepting a state 50/50 grant to buy firefighting equipment.
Fire/Rescue officials described the new UTV as an extended-bed model suitable for carrying a full-size stretcher (Stokes basket) into forested and confined-access areas where conventional vehicles cannot operate. Staff said Title 3 funds were available in the current budget for the purchase. The fire chief explained that while the sheriff’s office maintains some UTVs configured for patrol, those units lack the extended bed and stretcher capacity this model provides.
The board approved the purchase with a voice vote. Staff said they will also buy a trailer to transport the unit and detailed that a fire skid upfit (aluminum bed with low-profile water tank and pump plus Stokes-basket brackets) was quoted at about $29,000; the trailer estimate mentioned in the meeting was roughly $3,500. Commissioners asked that the vehicle be staged at the Sanderson station and requested clarity on equipment specifications; the chief said the unit would be a “no-frills” work vehicle (no large light bar, no AC) focused on capability to reach remote incidents.
Separately the board approved acceptance of a state JAG-like grant (JAG C) worth $28,832 to supplement the salary of a crime-scene detective, and earlier the board approved use of equitable-sharing funds held by the county for law-enforcement education and equipment requests. Both homeland-security/forensics and asset distribution items were approved by voice vote.
