BROOKINGS – Earlier this year, the Brookings Fire Department started raising money to purchase a Snowbulance to help with rescues and recoveries. They recently got the red, cone-shaped conveyance and displayed it at the fire station on Sixth Street on Tuesday night.

A few dozen people were there, and firefighters inspected every inch, already planning to customize it with things for patient safety and flashing lights on top to make the Snowbulance more visible in adverse weather conditions like fog or snow.

The Snowbulance is designed to transport injured people out of areas with no roads and for victim recovery, but the BFD has already received a request from the Brookings Summer Arts Festival for it to be on stand-by in case someone has a medical emergency at the popular annual event in Pioneer Park, Dave Miller said.

“It was fun to see people wanting to get involved. Lots of people really stepped up,” said Miller, a member of the BFD and the Dakota Drifters, which was a major contributor along with First Bank & Trust and Sioux Valley Energy.

The names and logos of those three were displayed on the side windows, along with the BFD logo, but donations came in from lots of different sources, like the 4-H group that gave $50.

“Special thanks to all the small donors to large donors. Great asset for our department to keep serving the public,” BFD Fire Chief Darrell Hartmann said.

The fire department had its choice of colors, so they stuck with tried-and-true red, because it stands out, Hartmann said. The Snowbulance runs on wheels or skis, so they can use it year-round and it can be hauled by snowmobiles or ATVS.

“It’s a city asset that we’ll make available. Fire departments can call for it as mutual aid; it’ll still be operated by our department,” Hartmann said.

Donations will still be accepted in anticipation of future repairs or purchase of more accessories.