Fire District 10 receives UTV from Avista

Vehicle will be put to use mostly in community events

Last updated 6/3/2021 at 9:46am

Paul Delaney

Avista Utilities risk manager Bob Brandkamp hands over the keys to Utility Terrain Vehicle to Spokane County Fire District 10 on May 27. Avista had previously declared the vehicle as surplus equipment.

AIRWAY HEIGHTS - An aging Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) that had come to the end of its useful life with Avista Utilities will find new purpose with Spokane County Fire District No. 10 in Airway Heights.

A handover of the keys on May 27 at FD 10 headquarters was the final step in a process that began about eight months ago, Assist. Fire Chief Don Malone explained.

In regular day-to-day conversations between the two organizations, the UTV usefulness topic came up. Avista uses the compact but sturdy vehicles to patrol it electricity transmission lines, many of which traverse property under the watch of the district.

"Basically, you know, we have a big fire and then we need to go drive around and along that line," Malone said.

While that duty could come Malone said the more urgent needs come in the district's work on events like Bloomsday and as standby paramedics at the Spokane Motorsports Complex's (ORV Park) motocross track located just down the road.

"It's better than taking a big vehicle over there," Malone said.

The price range for a new UTV vary widely. Base models range from $8,000-$15,000 while the high-performance versions go from $10,000-$30,000.

Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at pauldelaney53@comcast.net.