Ward 6 Fire Protection District #1 has been busy the last several months fighting numerous wildfires in Southwest Louisiana. The department utilizes UTV’s to access remote locations that traditional fire apparatus cannot get to. The need to replace a 12-year-old brush UTV became evident during the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish when the unit had mechanical issues and failed, stranding firefighters on the front line. To provide a reliable piece of equipment to protect the firefighters and the community, Ward 6 Fire reached out to Sempra Infrastructure which operates a compressor station on Holbrook Park Rd. to request a grant for the Brush UTV. Sempra Infrastructure approved a grant in the amount of $25,000 for the purchase of the 2023 Can-Am HD 10 6×6.
The unit was placed in service and responded to a 40-acre wildfire on Oct. 22, and a 1-acre wildfire on Oct. 29. This UTV provides firefighters with a reliable piece of equipment that will assist in containing and suppressing wildfires throughout the fire district. The unit will also respond to mutual aid requests from neighboring departments in Southwest Louisiana to provide suppression resources for wildland fires.
