While the word “fire” may be in its name, the Indian Lake Fire Department does far more than extinguish blazes.

On top of handling fires, the department’s volunteer staff perform search and rescue for people stranded on the neighboring lakes, assist with accidents involving snowmobiles and lend a hand during many community events throughout the year.

With an assortment of responsibilities under their belts, Indian Lake firefighters have spent the last several years searching for a nimble vehicle that would allow them to perform these tasks, but would require a smaller footprint than their existing fleet of fire engines and pick-up trucks.

Thanks in large part to the generosity of the community, their vision is now reality.

The department is finishing up work on the newest addition to its fleet, a 2011 Polaris Ranger utility vehicle. The six-wheel off road machine will allow crews to respond to incidents where larger vehicles would not be able to easily navigate, such as during firework shows and pow wows the department works throughout the year.

“It is something we can use to transport firefighting and medical equipment on without getting in the way of crowds,” said Chief Bryan Huggins.

The department initially purchased the vehicle — at a discounted price — in September from Harbor Sports Cycle in Benton Harbor. Since then, the firefighters have spent nearly 200 to 300 hours modifying the machine, including installing various LED lights to help illuminate surroundings for night-time search and rescue operations, and a public announcement system for events, Huggins said.

“Every member of the department has worked on it at some point,” Huggins said. “We all have our blood, sweat and tears in it, as I like to say.”

So far, the department has spent around $16,000 on the vehicle overall, and spent another $5,000 on purchasing a trailer for the machine.

Like many department initiatives in the past, businesses and others in the community stepped up to help the volunteers with the project. In December, the Pokagon Fund gave the staff a $3,500 grant to help with the cost of equipment, while True’s Towing and Recovery helped install and wire the lighting free of charge.

Creative Vinyl and WEAL LED, of Kalamazoo, also provided discounted services for the project, Huggins said.

“The community always steps up for us,” Huggins said. “They may not be part of the department, but they understand what we do and support us.”

Through projects such as the new Ranger, Indian Lake firefighters hope to return that generosity to the people they serve, Huggins said.

“We are always looking for new ways to help the community,” he said. “If we see a need, we will try to find the proper training or equipment to address it.”

The department expects to have the last piece of equipment installed by this month, and hopes to have the vehicle in service in the coming weeks.