- Ford is giving five Bronco SUVs to search and rescue teams.
- They’ll be based on the Badlands with the Sasquatch Package.
- Each one gets winches, recovery gear, drone, and Starlink.
A quick response can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. That’s a sad reality and it gets even more complicated when you factor in remote areas with tough terrain.
Ford CEO Jim Farley learned this first hand last summer, when he visited Utah’s Grand County Search and Rescue team to learn how they use their Bronco in and around Moab. This sparked a conversation and now the automaker is looking to get more off-roaders into the hands of rescuers.
More: The Bronco Had Its Best Year Ever And Jeep Should Probably Start Worrying
As part of this effort, the Bronco Wild Fund and the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) have joined forces for a new initiative known as Answer the Call. It will see the company award three Broncos to deserving organizations across the country.
The vehicles will be based on the Bronco Badlands and equipped with the Sasquatch Package. The latter costs $6,345 and includes electronic-locking front and rear differentials, a more advanced four-wheel drive system, and a high-clearance suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers. The package also adds special fender flares as well as 17-inch matte black wheels wrapped in 35-inch off-road tires.
While that’s a pretty capable combination, the search and rescue variants will be upfitted by Darley. This will see them equipped with winches, recovery gear, a drone, and Starlink connectivity.
Interested 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for a Bronco online and they have until February 28 to submit an application. However, this is no walk in the park as it has to be accompanied by the “organization’s W-9, budget, financial statements, and an endorsement letter from local law enforcement.” After jumping through all those hoops and getting selected, organizations can expect to take delivery before the end of the year.
Ford didn’t say much about the selection process, but hinted they’re “looking for teams operating in the most diverse and extreme environments, where the Bronco’s capability can make a tangible difference in mission outcomes.” That suggests the company is interested in teams that will put the Bronco’s off-road capability to good use.
The latest project builds on plans to deliver Broncos to Kern County Fire & Rescue in California and Teton County Search & Rescue in Wyoming later this year. It’s also worth noting Ford donated a firefighting command vehicle for use at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico in 2023.
