RICHMOND – The Richmond Fire District has purchased a John Deere Gator and firefighting skid.

The 2021 Gator is equipped with water, a pump, a hose and firefighting foam to use on grass and brush fires.

“(It) will be particularly helpful in areas that a brush truck cannot reach,” department information states. “Richmond firefighters are very pleased to have this new tool to assist with wildland fires.”

The department typically runs from 30 to 40 of those types of fires each year, some in areas that are impossible to reach with a brush truck. The Gator will allow firefighters to reach more of those fires with a pump and water.