RANGER Testimonials

Polaris RANGERs play a role in Life-Saving

Few things are more important than saving lives. When lives are at stake in hard to reach places, specialty vehicles are needed. Few vehicles are up to the task to assist in these life-saving operations, but the Polaris RANGER 6x6 fills the role in many applications.

The Wharton-Barrett Volunteer Fire Department makes use of their Polaris RANGER 6x6 just for this type of critical emergency. The vehicle has a modified cargo box with a Stokes Basket, a special type of patient carrying device. Additional storage for rescue equipment, and a modified passenger seat complete the modifications to the vehicle. The seat is removable and can be placed behind the driver in order to accommodate a patient in its place. The All-American Fire Equipment Company assisted in modifying the vehicle.

"We got a call to help the search and rescue team with a forestry accident," said Robert Rash, a member of the Wharton-Barrett Volunteer FD. "A bulldozer rolled over, and we went back into the hills to bring the patient out. I was amazed at how the vehicle worked on a rough-cut bulldozer path. The big thing is that it rode so smooth. There was a hill that we went over, and I was just looking at it going, 'Well, we'll be ready to jump if it starts to roll over!' but it climbed it easily. We were able to retrieve the patient from way back in the hills and bring him straight to the waiting helicopter."

Fire Department Chief Archie Hubbard was impressed as well.

"We called for assistance from another department that had a similar vehicle," Hubbard said, "but one of the people on the scene said, 'We need the Polaris.' We're looking into getting one just like it for ourselves if we can find the funding for it."

"We've had other departments look at the vehicle, as well as the operators of the Hatfield-McCoy trail," Rash said. "Our terrain ranges from near sea level to 3,800 feet, and the way it's set up and the way it works, you couldn't ask for a better set up for a search and rescue team. There's another department that has a [similar vehicle] they use, but it doesn't compare."

"Several members of my department said that a normal ATV couldn't have gone where this vehicle did," Hubbard said. "We couldn't have done this rescue mission with any other vehicle."