iN VIDEO: This hybrid electric UTV can help fight wildfires in the Okanagan | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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iN VIDEO: This hybrid electric UTV can help fight wildfires in the Okanagan

Created by UTV International, a company based in Montreal, the all-terrain vehicle made a stop in Lumby Saturday, May 22.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Erik Paldy

It looks similar to a snowcat, but this UTV is specially designed for the summer seasons to help firefighters combat wildfires.

Created by UTV International, a company based in Montreal, the all-terrain vehicle made a stop in Lumby Saturday, May 22, to showcase what it can do as B.C. approaches wildfire season.

Video Credit: Erik Paldy
Wildfire fighting UTV in action

The Voyager Tracked Fire Fighting Vehicle was designed and built over a five-year period, said engineer Erik Paldy. It made a stop in Lumby as part of a U.S. and Canadian tour promoting its firefighting capabilities.

The UTV acts as a support vehicle with various firefighting equipment including a 2,000-gallon water tank.

“With our hose system they can stand there for approximately two hours to battle fires,” he said, adding it has a hose system and also portable water tanks that can be left with firefighters as the UTV refills.

The company teamed up with consultant firefighter Tony Jumeau, of Irwin’s Safety from B.C., a firefighter who has built and sold firetrucks for roughly 20 years.

READ MORE: Hundreds of B.C. firefighters are training in Penticton this weekend

“We’re working hard with the contractors that help the fire agencies like B.C. Wildfire… to help enable their operations with this vehicle and also the single car vehicle,” he said. It’s the first of its kind in the world.

Rider Ventures in B.C. and No Surrender Fire in Alberta, contractors for the wildfire services in each province, will be using the UTVs.

With a track system, the UTV can handle soft ground which provides an advantage over a typical water tender, Jumeau said.

READ MORE: Extreme fire threats prompt US suspension of planned burns

The UTV is also a hybrid, diesel electric vehicle and the team are ambassadors of U.S. Department of Agriculture's green initiative.

The Voyager is heading to Banff today, in Alberta and will be introduced to contractors and the Alberta Wildfire.

— This story was corrected at 10:22 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2022, to say the UTV can hold 2,000 gallons of water, not pounds. The company are ambassadors of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's green initiative and are not sponsored by the department.


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