0313 utility vehicle
One of Homewood Fire Department’s utility vehicles.
Homewood Fire has enhanced its disaster scene preparedness with the acquisition of two small-scale rough terrain vehicles known as “utility vehicles” or “UTVs.”
Fire fighters will deploy the UTVs to transport personnel and rescue equipment into areas that are unreachable by fire trucks. In addition, one of the UTVs has been modified to transport victims out of disaster areas to awaiting ambulances.
After the April 2011 tornado outbreak, Homewood Fire provided disaster relief in Pleasant Grove and Hackleburg. Fire Chief John Bresnan and Mayor Scott McBrayer jointly recognized the need for UTVs in order for firefighters to more efficiently operate in the debris fields of a tornado’s aftermath. A combination of funding from the City of Homewood, Homeland Security and the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency made the purchases of the UTVs possible.
Under the direction of instructors Lt. Darrell Garrett and Fire-Medic Clint Daniels, firefighters have undergone UTV operational training. Utilizing unimproved areas in Wildwood, fire department personnel have developed the skills necessary for driving the UTVs in broken terrain.
The complement of the UTVs to Homewood Fire’s fleet places another level of capability in the emergency response system. With the UTVs fire fighters feel that victim inaccessibility due to windstorms and heavy snows will be greatly reduced. -submitted by the Homewood Fire Department
