Ford has unveiled a new version of Bronco called Firefighting. Designed for the park around Bandelier National Monument, it can assess the situation with its on-board drone and pinpoint fire locations in hard-to-reach natural areas.
The SUV comes finished in white and red with matching accents on the wheels and houses an expedition rack on the roof with auxiliary lights, warning beacons and an emergency satellite link.
The video feed from the drone is immediately displayed on the front passenger’s screen in the cabin, enabling quick visual detection of hot spots. There are no water tanks or hoses on board, because the intended purpose of the vehicle is that of a mobile command center.
To that end, it is a Badlands spec outfitted with the optional Sasquatch package including diff locks, a bull bar with a winch, tall suspension and 35-inch tires.
The Bandelier National Monument is surrounded by more than 13,000 hectares of wilderness with next to no roads or infrastructure to speak of in the vicinity, so sending firefighting crews to approximate locations is not a viable option.