Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's extreme all-terrain vehicle is a game-changer for rescue missions in flooded areas and rugged terrain
With 6-foot-high tires and the solid, boxy shape of a tank, SHERPS do more than turn heads -- they save lives. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) acquired four SHERPS to assist with water and various terrain rescue missions.
What's a SHERP?
The name "SHERPS" comes from the company that manufactures the vehicles. The manual transmission, four-wheel drive vehicles can carry roughly 2,600 pounds of cargo or people and reach up to 25 miles per hour on dry land.
These powerful vehicles have the ability to overcome boulders, fallen trees, and most terrains, including sand and water. Their ability to travel through flooded streets makes them indispensable during post-storm rescues.
When a SHERP reaches water, the giant tires turn into paddle wheels, allowing the vehicle to continue cruising forward. The onboard system gives operators the ability to inflate and deflate the tires to make water travel possible. The sealed chassis prevents water from flooding the engine and renders it fully amphibious.
HCFR estimates that SHERPS helped rescue at least 1,500 people from flooded conditions after Hurricane Milton in 2024.
