MIDDLESEX TWP — Firefighters here will now be able to access emergencies deep in the woods or fight a brush fire in a remote location.

The supervisors at their Wednesday night meeting unanimously approved the purchase of a utility terrain vehicle for the fire company through the fire tax fund.

Kim Blystone, president of the township fire company, told the supervisors the UTV holds six people plus a 70-gallon water tank, hose, and rescue body basket.

“You can get to places on this machine that you can’t get to with our regular apparatus,” Blystone said.

She said many times, the flames to be attacked are far from the fire trucks.

“This will get our people to the scene before they’re exhausted getting to the scene,” Blystone said.

She said brush fires are normally the ones that cause firefighters to trek across rugged terrain carrying heavy equipment.

“We can equip this to make it a rolling brush fire vehicle,” Blystone said.

She said the UTV can also be used for search and rescue purposes.

Township manager Scot Fodi said Wexford Volunteer Fire Department has a UTV, which it uses for brush fires and rescuing victims from rugged terrain and wooded areas.

“It is within the budget,” Fodi told supervisors.

The vehicle is a Firelite Transport, and will be supplied by KIMTEK Corp. of Orleans, Vt. The cost is $7,129. Turner Tractor of Evans City will supply the Sure Trac Novae trailer for $5,928.

Blystone said the enclosed trailer will allow firefighters to quickly hook up the UTV and haul it to a scene without having to remove it from the fire station and load it. The trailer can also be used to store other firefighting equipment.

“It can be used year-round for many applications,” Blystone said.

She said Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department is the only other station she knows of that has a UTV.