Ford Donates State-of-Art Bronco Response SUV to Badlands Monument

 As the threat of wildfires increases, Ford Motor Company and the Bronco Wild Fund are donating a Bronco Badlands SUV with Sasquatch off-road package to the National Park Service for use in Bandelier National Monument, where it will operate as a firefighting command vehicle.

Monument Thanks Ford For Donation

“I want to thank Ford for this generous donation. Over the last 20 years, warmer temperatures and stronger winds have resulted in bigger fires that are harder to predict and manage. These more resource-intensive fires have a real impact on Bandelier's firefighting corps, and this donation will help us manage fires better. It will also help to minimize impact to the park’s affiliated tribes, who have traditionally used parkland for cultural, economic, and spiritual reasons,” said Patrick Suddath, superintendent of the Bandelier National Monument.

Two-thirds of the Bandelier is designated wilderness, meaning it needs more infrastructure and is difficult to access. The Bronco Wildland firefighting command rig will enhance Bandelier's fire fleet, expanding its current capabilities.  

This Bronco is the first of two being developed by Darley for donation to the National Park Services and a wildland firefighting agency that will be the subject of a future announcement. This pilot program intends to develop a tool that addresses an unmet need by allowing a deeper command position with reliable and redundant connectivity and facilitating the acquisition and sharing of valuable information to aid firefighters.  

Darley is a global manufacturer and distributor of defense, fire, and rescue vehicles and is the company carrying out the customization. The vehicle is upfit with equipment to help the park monitor and manage active fires, identify fires, deliver real-time updates on fire location and severity, and provide other firefighting support.  

Vehicle Equipment Is State Of The Art

To achieve these objectives, the rig is equipped with a state-of-the-art government communication system, including satellite and antenna connections, to provide reliability and redundancy in the most remote environments. The integrated technology will allow firefighters to establish a real-time backcountry command and control position with the crews during emergency operations. The vehicle also includes a drone with live feed screens on the vehicle, a tablet computer, and special software, providing the first response team with improved aerial reconnaissance, detection capabilities, and improved situational awareness. These high-tech, effective solutions allow for safer operations when responding to wildland fires and other domestic disasters.  

The Bronco Wildland firefighting command rig is the ultimate communications hub with G.O.A.T. modes Rivers. It’s a four-door mountain goat made to carry firefighting rangers so they can quickly coordinate where emergency units need to be.

Other specialized hardware includes a grille guard, a factory-installed Warn winch, a set of beadlock wheels, a roof rack fitted with a light bar, search and emergency lights, and a siren. 

Not A New Concept

“Henry Ford and W.S. Darley worked together in the 20th century. We are honored that a hundred-plus years later, our companies are still working together to serve our national heroes and sustain our beautiful spaces. Everything we do is built for performance and powered by technology with a relentless focus on the human experience,” Kimberly Brown, Darley's chief marketing officer, said.

The National Park Service officially provided the Bronco recently.  For more information, visit Road to Better and the Bronco Wild Fund, visit sustainability.ford.com.  

Ford Motor Photo

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, “You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent many misspent hours hanging out at gas stations (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars.  From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper "You Auto Know," an enterprise I handled faithfully for 32 years. Only a few people know that I also handled computer documentation for most of my earnings while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc.  You can follow me on: Twitter or