The Scottsdale Fire Department now uses e-bikes for its rescue operations involving people affected by extreme heat. Firefighters began using the latest transportation last month.
Fire Capt. Dave Folio says one case involved officials traveling 2.5 miles in 10 to 15 minutes to locate and treat a hiker.
The technical rescue teams use the bikes to navigate the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They carry IV fluids to prevent dehydration and shock equipment for those going through a cardiac arrest.
Folio says the bikes save the firefighters 45 minutes to an hour and a half when rescuing people. He also says he does not put a price on the cost of the bikes due to their usefulness.
“It's been priceless to the hiker that we saved, priceless to the rescuers who didn't have to continue five miles on the trail, and it's also helped the community. It allowed us to get units back into service quicker into their areas that they normally respond to,"
Folio says other fire departments from Phoenix and other states have shown interest in the e-bikes.
