MANCHESTER, Conn. — The Manchester Fire Department went offroad on Wednesday in a training that will be essential for their work day-to-day.

About a decade ago, the department acquired two Utility Terrain Vehicles, or UTVs, to use for calls that range from medical incidents to brush fire response.

“Every shift, every company goes through a course with one of our UTV instructors,” said Battalion Chief Matt Leroux, the training officer at the Manchester Fire Department.

As a town, Manchester has a lot of challenging topography that firefighters must navigate, from wooded areas to steep, hilly hiking paths. Leroux noted that the department now has a dedicated trail, three-quarters of a mile long, right by their maintenance facility that each member of the department is trained on annuall

See Full Page