WEST SENECA, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2025) — Union Fire Company members spent Wednesday night training with a new utility terrain vehicle designed for off-road rescues and emergencies.

Firefighters reviewed patient lifting techniques and practiced with transport devices including a stair chair, stretcher and top deck. The session also covered assembling a Stokes rescue basket, patient packaging and loading patients into the UTV.

The new apparatus, designated Union 7-3, will be used for search and rescue in areas difficult to reach with traditional equipment, such as Burchfield Park, Buffalo Creek and ATV trails. It will also be fitted with tracks for snow emergencies.