Prescott Fire Department recently acquired two specialized electric powered mountain bikes to assist with trail rescues and medical calls, with a grant from the City’s bed tax fund. These bikes will assist first responders in getting to medical emergencies on steep terrain and narrow trails.
According to Captain Jason Beyea, head of the Technical Rescue Unit for Prescott Fire department, these bikes will greatly improve response to emergencies on remote, narrow or steep trails such as the new Bean Peaks gravity flow trail.
“Bean Peaks provide great mountain biking opportunities, but these trails and others like in the area are very challenging for first responders to get to the scene. Many of these trails are single track, so even an ATV can’t get there. These bikes will allow us to respond in these remote areas. The majority of injuries for mountain biking are broken bones, so they require skilled medical attention,” he said.
“The City of Prescott Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) is very supportive of the investment of Transient Occupancy Tax, also known as Bed Tax, toward the E-Bike rescue project,” said Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) Chairperson Margo Chrestensen. “We feel that the safety of our local residents and visitors is of paramount importance. We are proud to support our Fire Department and rescue personnel in this unique, new rescue program”
Once the need and the costs for the bikes was established, Prescott Fire Chief Holger Durre reached out to staff with the Prescott Tourism Office Experience Prescott to see if they could provide a grant to pay for the new bikes and equipment, which came to about $25,000. After a review and recommendation from the Tourism Advisory Committe (TAC), the funds were made available for the equipment purchase.
The bikes have been in use for several weeks, and have already assisted with response on Bean Peaks and other trails.
