The Ford Ranger Raptor pickup might be a fun plaything for many, but it’s a matter of life and death for the Helsinki City Rescue Department.

Helsinki City Rescue Ford Ranger Raptor

Arctic Trucks Finland has turned a regular Raptor into a bespoke firefighting vehicle for the Helsinki local government. As part of the Ford Qualified Modifier programme, Arctic Trucks has significantly changed the standard truck. A bash plate and nudge bars protect it from debris on the road — or off it — while a selection of light bars add nighttime visibility. Raised suspension, larger tyres and longer travel suspension ensure the Raptor can get wherever it needs to go. A range of firefighting and first aid equipment is stored in the cargo bed, protected by a canopy.

Helsinki City Rescue Ford Ranger Raptor

“In this project, we truly had the possibility to utilise the expertise of our own team and partners widely, which made it professionally very interesting and special,” said Ville Viikari, managing director at Arctic Trucks Finland. “It was wonderful to get the opportunity to be part of developing and building this unique vehicle. And now it is ready to save lives in the Helsinki area.”

Helsinki City Rescue Ford Ranger Raptor

Helsinki’s Ranger Raptor joins emergency vehicles from across Europe, including firefighting vehicles in France and Slovenia and a water rescue truck in the Czech Republic.


Phil Huff