Monday, Oct 27, the Gerald-Rosebud Fire Protection District put into service a new Rapid Response UTV. The all terrain fire and rescue unit was obtained through a $42,000 no-match grant from Phillips 66. The department has spent ann additional $4,000 on lights, radios  and graphics.

Fire Chief Rudy Via says the UTV “will be a great asset” for his department. The unit is equipped with a 55 gallon water tank and is capable of drafting water from ponds and other water sources. It also contains a five gallon foam tank.

The machine can be used to travel to hard-to-reach areas to fight fires and transport patients. Examples of such places might be along oil pipelines or the Rock Island Trail.

Brandon Nagel and Darren Perkins with Phillips 66 were on hand to oversee the hand off of the UTV. They joined most of the department for the arrival of the new machine which arrived at a most opportune time. A rescue truck used by the department is out of commission due to a faulty transmission. With the new UTV, there will be no lapse of service.

The district will also be the recipient of new radios, thanks to another grant. This department, along with Owensville, Belle and Vienna departments will share a $777,000 grant to purchase portable and mobile radios. The radios will be purchased as soon as a radio type is chosen. 

In recent years, the Gerald-Rosebud Fire Department has aggressively sought grants to add needed equipment to their inventory. This saves taxpayers in the district thousands of dollars each year.

Between answering calls, repairing equipment, updating training and community interactions, these volunteers never stop.